With the run-up to Easter, will this week's unseasonable weather entice more shoppers into stores?

Experian FootFall commentary for the week commencing the 3rd March 2008

Experian Retail FootFall Index - UK National Weekly:
Change for week 10 (2nd March 2008 – 9th March 2008): -5.4%
Change for week 10 year-on-year: -2.6%

Experian Retail FootFall Index – Town Centre Weekly:
Change for week 10 (2nd March 2008 – 9th March 2008): -4.8%
Change for week 10 year-on-year: -2.3%

Experian Retail FootFall Index – Department Store Weekly:
Change for week 10 (2nd March 2008 – 9th March 2008): +2.7%
Change for week 10 year-on-year: +8.6%


• Following the previous week’s increase in shopper visits recorded by the Experian FootFall National Index, week 10 saw a fall of -5.4% week-on-week and the underlying year-on-year trend recorded a fall in shoppers of -2.6%.

• A similar pattern, though with a slightly smaller decline was recorded in the High Street Index, with the fall in visits of -4.8 week-on-week and -2.3% year-on-year.

• The Department Store Index bucked the trend of the National and High Street Indices in Week 10, by recording a week on week increase in visitors of +2.7%, resulting in a year-on-year increase of +8.6%, as shoppers seemed to move their preferences to a mix of “under one roof” visits for a combination of shopping and browsing.

• As Easter looms, with the current unseasonable weather, thoughts must be turning towards whether this traditional trigger will encourage more shoppers into stores to buy the new season’s merchandise.

11/03/2008