More Shoppers Head out of Town

Footfall in Scottish shops last month was up 1.7% on the previous year, thanks to an increase in out-of-town shopping. The Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) - Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor shows footfall numbers were 1.7% higher in March than a year ago, and up on the 1.2% rise in February. Diane Wehrle, marketing and insights director at Springboard, said: "The 1.7% increase in footfall in Scotland's retail destinations in March compares favourably to the 0.2% increase across the UK. "However, the polarisation of shopper activity was far more pronounced in Scotland, with footfall in out-of-town locations increasing by 12.7% compared with 3.8% in retail parks across the UK, but with decreases in footfall in both high streets and shopping centres.'' It is thought the increase in out-of-town shopping reflects the two key trading days of Good Friday and Easter Saturday, which fell in March this year rather than April. David Lonsdale, director of the SRC, said: "These are heartening figures and record a second successive monthly expansion in footfall growth across Scotland's shopping destinations. "This is the best performance since September and means footfall in Scotland has risen in 10 of the past 12 months, comparing favourably with other parts of the UK.'' He added: "Retailers are clearly working hard to attract custom through improved service, pricing and promotions but whether this - coupled with encouraging news of late on rising employment and wages - translates into a greater propensity to spend in shops or online remains to be seen. We should have a better understanding when our retail sales data is released next week. "The outcome of the UK General Election is only three weeks away, and the retail industry in Scotland is looking to the next government to deliver a convincing plan to boost business and consumer confidence.''