Latest data from retail experts Springboard has revealed that last week, footfall across UK retail destinations rose by +1.5%, following a rise of +6.7% in the week before.
Footfall in high streets fell by -1.7%, however, there were rises of +3.9% in shopping centres and +6.1% in retail parks.
The increases in footfall from week to week throughout the lockdown period are reflected in a reduction in the annual decline in footfall, which last week was -61.4% across all UK retail destinations.
Diane Wehrle, insights director at Springboard commented: “Despite Beast from the East 2 hitting virtually all of the UK at some point last week, footfall across retail destinations continued to rise from the week before. The weather did impact high streets, but it was more than compensated for by increases in footfall in shopping centres and retail parks.
“Last week was the fourth consecutive week in which footfall has increased from the week before, delivering ever more evidence that shoppers are experiencing lockdown fatigue and are increasingly willing to travel to retail destinations, whatever the weather. In fact, in the seven weeks since Lockdown 3 came into effect on Boxing Day, the only declines have been in the first three weeks of the lockdown, which included the two weeks following Christmas when footfall typically drops anyway.