Business

North reports fifth consecutive month of footfall growth against backdrop of overall UK decline

The north was the only region in the UK to report an increase in retail footfall last month
The north was the only region in the UK to report an increase in retail footfall last month The north was the only region in the UK to report an increase in retail footfall last month

THE north was the only region in the UK to report an increase in retail footfall last month, according to the new Springboard figures.

Footfall in Northern Ireland grew by 0.2 per cent in February, the fifth consecutive monthly increase, although the figure was marginally down from the 0.3 per cent gain recorded in the same month in 2018

The high street remains in positive territory, although footfall growth of 0.6 per cent last month was down significantly on the 4.7 per cent reported in January. Shopping Centre traffic fell by 1.1 per cent in February, however this was an improvement on the same period a year ago when it declined by 4.1 per cent.

The publication of the latest data means that overall footfall growth has been recorded in eight of the past 12 months, with the three-month (+2.1 per cent) and 12-month averages (+0.2 per cent) both positive.

The north was the only region in the UK to report an increase in footfall last month, bucking the trend of an overall decline.

Northern Ireland Retail Consortium director, Aodhán Connolly welcomed the latest figures.

"It is great news that yet again Northern Ireland has bucked the negative trend and is the only region of the UK to see growth," he said.

"And there was more good news recently with a rise in the regional business rate of only 2 per cent compared to the 10 per cent that had been mooted."

In spite of the relative positivity within the sector Mr Connolly said retailers can not afford to become complacent in face of a number of challenges, including Brexit.

"While the inflation rate rise in business rates is welcome, it does not solve the fundamental problem that our business rates taxation system in Northern Ireland is not fit for purpose. We need change and we need it now to ensure that Northern Ireland is a competitive place to do business in a global market place."

“Added to that, we have only a couple of short weeks before we leave the EU and the uncertainty does not help business and definitely does not support the hard pressed Northern Ireland households. We need certainty, we need progress and most of all we need a deal," he said.

Springboard marketing and insights director, Diane Wehrle believes consistency is a key factor in the stronger performance of the Northern Ireland retail market compared with the rest of the UK.

“Across the UK as a whole, in the first three weeks of the month, footfall dropped by an average of -3.6 per cent, but increased by +2.5 per cent in the fourth week due to the unseasonably balmy weather. Northern Ireland didn’t seem to benefit from the warmer weather, with footfall declining by an average of just -0.9 per cent over the first three weeks with a further -0.1 per cent drop in the final week," she said.

“The other significant difference between the UK and Northern Ireland was in the pattern of footfall across the day. In the UK as a whole there was a modest decline in footfall during day time hours of -1.5 per cent compared with a larger drop post 5pm of -3.3 per cent. In Northern Ireland, however, the growth in activity outside of retail trading hours is far the largest of any geography across the UK with day time footfall declining by -3.7 per cent and footfall post 5pm rising by +8.7 per cent.”