UK footfall bounces back by 6.6% due to Mother’s Day weekend
High streets led the charge with activity rising by 7.9% while shopping centres and retail parks also witnessed rises in footfall of 6.2% and 4.4%, respectively
MRI Software announced that the lead up to Mother’s Day and the peak Easter trading period significantly boosted week-on-week footfall across all UK retail destinations as footfall climbed by 6.6%.
High streets led the charge with activity rising by 7.9% while shopping centres and retail parks also witnessed rises in footfall of 6.2% and 4.4%, respectively.
Week on week rises in activity across all UK retail destinations were particularly noticeable on Sunday marked by a 10.9% boost and Friday with 10%. Much of this activity is attributed to high streets which showcased strong performance over the past week.
Regional performance also remained strong with the West Midlands seeing footfall rise by almost a fifth year on year, followed by North and Yorkshire (14%) and the South East (13.3%). Historic and market towns witnessed the most significant rises in activity week on week of 10.9% and 11%, respectively.
With a strong week for UK retail destinations, footfall rose by 12.4% from last year, by 15.6% in high streets, 9.7% in shopping centres, and 8.6% in retail parks. This is likely to have been encouraged by the mild weather observed last week combined with the last minute dash for Mothers Day and families making the most of leisure and hospitality experiences before the Easter weekend.
Jenni Matthews, marketing and insights director at MRI Software, said: “The week leading up to Mother’s Day, and two weeks out from the peak trading week for Easter, saw a significant rebound in footfall compared to the previous week and year on year. However, it’s important to note that some of the year on year rise in activity will be in response to a decline in activity experienced in the same week last year when adverse weather hit the UK impacting footfall in all retail destinations.
“Most significantly, compared to 2023 levels, footfall was six times higher last week in all UK retail destinations which may well have been influenced by shoppers heading out for last minute Mothers Day gifts or families heading out into towns and cities for leisure and hospitality experiences ahead of the special day.”
