Arctic weather fails to keep people at home

Experian Retail FootFall Index - UK National Weekly:
Change for week 14 (31st March 2008 – 6th April 2008): -0.3%
Change for week 14 year-on-year: +0.9%

Experian Retail FootFall Index – Town Centre Weekly:
Change for week 14 (31st March 2008 – 6th April 2008): -0.3%
Change for week 14 year-on-year: +1.9%

Experian Retail FootFall Index – Department Store Weekly:
Change for week 14 (31st March 2008 – 6th April 2008): -7.8%
Change for week 14 year-on-year: +6.0%


• The Experian Retail FootFall UK Index shows that retail activity levelled out this week, having jumped 7.9 per cent the previous week. Footfall remained reasonably stable, down just 0.3 per cent on last week, and up 0.9 per cent on the same week last year.
• The figures suggest that shopper numbers have remained relatively buoyant since picking up after the Easter weekend, despite the return of arctic conditions in many parts of the UK. The Town Centre Index reveals a similar pattern, down just 0.3 per cent but up almost 2 per cent on the same week last year. On the downside, the Department Store Weekly index recorded a decline of 7.8 per cent. However, this level of activity was still up 6 per cent on the comparable week last year.
• It appears Easter period shopping has continued into another week and consumers are responding to the new Spring ranges and a range of tempting discount offers, despite the cold weather.
• This week sees the start of the Easter school holidays for many parts of the country. It remains to be seen whether this will help further boost shopper numbers or whether a significant number of families have chosen to go abroad in search of warmer climes.

08/04/2008