National footfall* figures on visits to Irish shopping centres for the first quarter of 2008 show an increase in the number of shoppers nationwide since January. The figures, released by Experian's Property Services Division, also confirm that March 2008 was the first month this year to better its corresponding month in 2007, with 1.2% more people shopping in March this year because of the Easter holiday period.

This return to positive growth brings an end to a six month decline in monthly, year on year, shopper numbers, which have been in negative territory since September 2007.

However, while footfall activity increased in February and again in March, footfall figures for the first quarter on 2008 were 2.1% down when compared to the first quarter of 2007. Experian highlights that there was significant nationwide growth in shopper numbers during the St Patrick's Day and Easter holidays.

Property consultant CB Richard Ellis said earlier this month that pedestrian footfall in the first three months of this year on Grafton Street was down 9% compared with the average over the previous five years. The decline on Henry Street is even more acute, with a 12% fall-off in shoppers.

The figures also revealed that Valentines Week was a bumper one for retailers, (w/c11th February 2008) recording a 14.8% week on week increase in shopper numbers and a 6.2% increase when compared to the same week in 2007. Mark Mullally, Property Service Manager, Experian said, "Throughout January and into early February footfall figures were down in comparison to the corresponding weeks in 2007. However, perhaps motivated by romance, shoppers returned to stores in significant numbers during Valentine's Week. This increased activity resulted in Valentine's Week becoming the first week in 2008 to better that of 2007."

However, while month on month figures for February saw the national footfall index return to positive territory, consumer activity started off slowly in March and it was not until the St Patrick's Day holiday (w/c 17th March 2008) that March recorded its first week on week increase in shopper numbers. While the St Patrick's Day week recorded a week on week increase of 2.5% activity was down by 2.9% when compared to the same period in 2007.

The increased consumer activity in the third week of March continued into Easter Week (w/c 24th March) which recorded a massive 12.9% increase in week on week footfall activity and a substantial increase of 5.9% over the same period in 2007. This late rally in March helped to push month on month footfall ahead of February and also record the first monthly, year on year, increase in shopper numbers.

Mark Mullally, said, "The increase in consumer activity in February and the further increase in March is good news for retailers and perhaps points to a growth in consumer confidence. However, we must bear in mind that the Easter holidays fell early in 2008. Key annual holidays such as Easter lend themselves to an increased level of footfall activity, so while the positive figures for March are welcome it remains to be seen whether footfall will continue to grow in the second quarter of the year."

Northern Ireland & United Kingdom Footfall

Unlike the Republic, which got off to a shaky start, footfall figures for Northern Ireland were positive for the first quarter of 2008. Shopper numbers for each of the first three month of 2008 were ahead of 2007 resulting in an overall increase of 1.9% on the first quarter of 2007. February 2008 was a particularly busy month for Northern Irish retailers, recording a 21.3% month on month increase over January and a 1.3% increase in activity over February 2007.

Like the Republic of Ireland, footfall figures for the United Kingdom confirm negative growth for the first quarter of 2008 compared to 2007. However, while the Republic recorded growth in March, UK shopper numbers declined in each of the first three months of the year. This continued decline resulted in a first quarter fall of 4.9% over 2007 figures (ROI 2.1% decline and NI 1.9% growth).

Month on month UK figures for March were 0.9% down on February and 2.7% down on March 2007. This latest fall resulted in the UK footfall index recording its eight consecutive monthly, year on year, decline.

Mark Mullally, said, "As we can see, when compared to the UK the Irish retail market seems to be holding up well. The global economic slowdown may have hit harder in the UK and this may be due to higher UK interest rates and lenders imposing stricter credit criteria resulting in a lack of easily available credit. However, it is also likely that the exceptionally un-seasonal weather experienced by the UK since the beginning of February may have resulted in people staying home and staying out of retail outlets."