Northern Ireland’s retail sector experienced the most significant decline in shopper footfall across the UK in April, with a stark 14.3% decrease. This downturn, affecting both high streets and shopping centres, marks a considerable worsening from the 4.9% drop recorded in March, raising concerns for local businesses.
Key takeaways
- Northern Ireland recorded a 14.3% drop in retail footfall in April, the steepest decline in the UK.
- Shopping centres saw a 12.8% decrease, while Belfast experienced a 15.4% fall.
- The early timing of Easter is cited as a contributing factor, though combined March-April figures still show a decline.
- Retailers face challenges including rising employment costs, business rates, and reduced consumer confidence due to global events and the cost of living crisis.
- Calls are being made for government intervention, including business rate reductions, to support the retail sector.
April’s sharp decline
The latest figures from the NI Retail Consortium (NIRC) reveal a significant slump in visits to Northern Ireland’s stores during April. This performance was notably worse than the 4.9% decline seen in March, placing the region at the bottom of the UK’s regional footfall performance table. Shopping centres alone witnessed an 8.1% increase in their rate of decline, moving from 8.1% in March to 12.8% in April. Belfast, in particular, saw its footfall drop by 15.4%, more than double the rate observed in the previous month, making it the second-worst performing UK city after Liverpool.
Factors influencing the downturn
The NIRC attributes part of the decline to the early arrival of Easter in April, which likely pulled forward shopper traffic from March. However, even when March and April figures are combined to account for the holiday’s timing, footfall still decreased by 4.4%. Neil Johnston, director of the NIRC, highlighted that while a dip was anticipated due to the early Easter, the extent of the decline was concerning for retailers across all areas. He also pointed to broader economic pressures, including increased employment costs, rising business rates, and the impact of global conflicts on shipping and consumer confidence, which are straining household budgets.
Calls for government action
Retail consultants suggest that the fragile recovery of retail footfall in Northern Ireland has been starkly highlighted by April’s figures. While acknowledging the impact of the early Easter, the combined data underscores the ongoing pressures on retailers. With consumer confidence waning and the cost of living crisis persisting, shoppers are becoming more discerning, making fewer but more purposeful trips. In response, retailers are urged to maximise every customer interaction by offering value and compelling reasons for repeat visits. The NIRC is calling for renewed energy from the devolved government to revitalise high streets and retail destinations. Key proposals include a concerted plan to attract shoppers back to towns and cities, making them cost-effective locations for investment, and specifically lowering business rates for retail and hospitality businesses, mirroring measures introduced in Scotland and England.
Sources
- Northern Ireland shop footfall down 14.3pc: what it means, Belfast Telegraph.
