Optimism follows a quiet Easter
Ipsos’ Retail Traffic Index (RTI), the definitive metric of footfall entering non-food stores across all location categories in the UK, including high streets, shopping centres, retail parks and transport hubs, rose by 1.7% in April over March, but suffered a decline of 8.7% year-on-year. For the Easter fortnight (24th March to 6th April), 9.7% fewer shopping trips were made against the equivalent holiday period last year, making it the quietest Easter on record of the millennium for non-food store retailers.
The absence of sunshine and warm weather has resulted in a particularly slow start for the fashion sector merchandising its spring and summer collections. It has also discouraged browsers and delayed click-and-collectors picking up their purchases from stores.
However, as warmer weather begins to blanket the UK, shoppers across the...
