The number of shoppers heading to Welsh retail destinations still remains down on pre-pandemic levels despite footfall continuing to rise compared to 2022, figures show. According to new data from the Welsh Retail Consortium, footfall increased by 3% in April year-on-year.
However, this was 6.1 percentage points worse than March and lower than the UK average increase of 5.3% (year-on-year). When compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, total Welsh footfall was 18% lower, with shopping centres down by 34.6% and footfall in Cardiff by 13.0%.
Of the nations and regions in the UK, Wales recorded a higher increase in footfall, compared to last year, than Northern Ireland (2.9%), Yorkshire and the Humber (2.9%), North West England (2.8%), South West England (1.8%). North East England was the only region to see a drop in footfall numbers by minus 3.2%.
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TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION
GROWTH RANK |
NATION AND REGION |
% GROWTH YoY |
1 |
London |
+10.0% |
2 |
England |
+9.7% |
3 |
Scotland |
+7.7% |
4 |
West Midlands |
+6.0% |
5 |
East Midlands |
+6.0% |
6 |
East of England |
+5.3% |
7 |
South East England |
+5.3% |
8 |
Wales |
+3.0% |
9 |
Northern Ireland |
+2.9% |
10 |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
+2.9% |
11 |
North West England |
+2.8% |
12 |
South West England |
+1.8% |
13 |
North East England |
-3.2% |
Of the UK cities, footfall in Cardiff increased last month by 2.8% compared with a year earlier. This was only higher than Belfast (1.6%) and Leeds (0.9%).
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY
GROWTH RANK |
CITY |
% GROWTH YoY |
1 |
Edinburgh |
+29.4% |
2 |
London |
+10.0% |
3 |
Nottingham |
+8.8% |
4 |
Birmingham |
+6.4% |
5 |
Liverpool |
+6.2% |
6 |
Manchester |
+4.5% |
7 |
Glasgow |
+3.3% |
8 |
Bristol |
+3.0% |
9 |
Cardiff |
+2.8% |
10 |
Belfast |
+1.6% |
11 |
Leeds |
+0.9% |
Footfall to shopping centres declined by 0.4% in April (YoY) in Wales - 5.4 percentage points worse than March.
Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said: “Shopper footfall in Wales rose by three percent in April. Whilst there is a little sunlight for retailers and retail destinations in these figures, there is a risk of a false dawn. The pace of growth last month slackened markedly and was at its weakest level since last October.
"Furthermore, the uplift was not universally seen across all destinations with shopping centres seeing a fall in visitors for the first time in six months. Overall, Welsh foot-traffic remained 18% down on pre-pandemic levels, underlining the protracted nature of the challenges facing much of retail.
“In recent days the Welsh Government has published its town centres position statement and a retail action plan will be unveiled shortly. What is beyond doubt is that there is still much work to do and our industry will be looking for some tangible action which will help to sustain footfall and spending for the year to come. In the immediate term, the King's Coronation and bank holidays should hopefully put a spring in retailers’ step for the month of May.”
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, said: “Footfall saw growth again in April, even if more modest than in the first quarter. This is despite a continuing cost of living crisis and inflation in most categories, not least food. With April marking a year on from the end of the last remaining covid restrictions across the UK, as well as the first energy price cap increase, remarkably, retailers are starting to see some stability.
"This can partially be attributed to consumers adjusting to the times by shopping down or shopping more carefully. As we became used to “living with covid”, consumers have now lived with higher prices for over a year, meaning shopping habits are beginning to stabilise. Stability brings predictability and predictability brings retailers the confidence to plan.
"There is also positive news from some retailers, with HMV making a much-anticipated return to Oxford Street after a four-year hiatus, and M&S announcing it is investing £12.5 million into developing its London store portfolio this year.
"The outlook does remain tough however, and double-digit growth was always going to fizzle out as the year went on and footfall trends began to normalise. Nevertheless, rising consumer confidence and a May full of holidays is surely something that retailers can look forward to.”
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