Early Easter boosts shopper numbers

The early Easter Holiday resulted in an increase in shopping activity last month, according to the latest footfall figures.

Data from Experian suggests that the tills in shopping centres and high streets were ringing as the number of shoppers last month exceeded the 2007 level by 1.2 per cent. Footfall measures the number of people entering a store or shopping area.

This brings to an end six-months of year-on-year declines stretching back to September 2007.

According to Experian the February data showed an increase of 1 per cent compared to the previous month but "it was not until St Patrick's Day holiday that March recorded its first week-on-week increase in shopper numbers".

In Northern Ireland shopping activity for each of the first three months of the year has exceeded 2007, culminating in an overall increase of 1.9 per cent. February saw a 21.3 per cent month on month increase.

In Britain the data shows that shopper numbers have declined in each of the first three months resulting in a quarter growth of 4.9 per cent.

The Experian report suggests that the British retail sector may be labouring under higher interest rates and tighter credit restrictions from lenders.