The figures revealed a continuing year-on-year fall in shopper numbers as the temperatures rose, with drops of 12.5 per cent on Good Friday and 15.1 per cent on Easter Saturday. Despite an encouraging turnaround in activity by Bank Holiday Monday, with 1.2 per cent more people on the high street compared to last year, footfall levels over the weekend were down 10.3 per cent on Easter last year.
However, spend was directed at the DIY, home improvements and gardening sectors, which traditionally benefit over this period at the expense of the high street.
Footfall spokeswoman Natasha Burton said: 'The UK's high street retailers struggled for their share of consumer spend this Easter, with the battle closely fought between homes and gardens, leisure activities and the high street.
'Despite holding numerous high-profile events and mid-season sales in a last-ditch attempt to draw shoppers indoors, the anticipated warm weather proved more enticing to consumers. This resulted in a significant decline in footfall levels compared to last year, which continued throughout Friday and Saturday as consumers delayed planned shopping trips.
'After a missed day's trading on Sunday, retailers were relying on a surge of shoppers back to the high street on Monday. They were not disappointed; shopper numbers rose 1.2 per cent on the same day last year. Shoppers seem to have put off their high street trips until the last day of the holiday, anxious to make the most of the weather in case it didn't last.'
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