Retail is hit by record 80pc dip in footfall

thE number of visits Britons made to shops plunged by an massive 80.1pc last month as the country followed strict lockdown rules.

the largest ever drop in footfall was almost double the previous record of 41.3pc in March.

It came as Britain spent its first full month in lockdown, with only essential stores remaining open and shoppers advised to make as few trips out as possible.

But analysts detected an uptick in shopping trips at the end of april as DIY and home stores began reopening.

shopping centres were the worst hit last month, with an 84.8pc fall in visitors, according to retail data experts springboard.

high streets, which were already under pressure from by Francesca Washtell online shopping and sky-high business rates, saw an 83.3pc drop. But the presence of big supermarkets and other essential stores meant retail parks fared better – with customer numbers down 68.1pc.

springboard’s Diane Wehrle, said the ‘overriding focus on safe shopping’ and community could boost smaller high streets as shoppers shun trips to bigger towns and cities.

Wehrle said: ‘What has become clear, but is not obvious from the headline rate, is the shift in consumer behaviour from large towns and cities to smaller local centres.

‘In contrast to pre-coronavirus days, the path of recovery for retail may well be led by smaller high streets which can offer both safety and community benefits.’ all ‘non-essential’ stores were instructed to close when lockdown was introduced on March 23 – including bookshops, hairdressers and clothes shops.

although retailers have been able to furlough staff and some access other Government financial support, many have been pushed to the brink.

a slew of big-name high street firms including Laura ashley, Cath Kidston, Debenhams and Warehouse have called in administrators.

Garden centres will be allowed to reopen this week. Other retailers will follow under social distancing rules.

the boss of the British Retail Consortium, helen Dickinson, yesterday said decisions on which shops reopen should be based on safety not size or business type.