Darlington saw 'small but positive' rise in footfall as sunny April drew in shoppers
Darlington town centre experienced a 'small but positive' rise in footfall during March and April as unseasonably sunny weather encouraged shoppers to return to the high street, new figures suggest.
According to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic, high street footfall across the UK rose by 0.2 per cent year-on-year when combining March and April to adjust for the timing of Easter.
While the figures are national, the trend is reflected in local areas like Darlington, where retailers are hoping to maintain momentum into the summer.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said: 'Adjusting for the late fall of Easter this year, footfall across March and April showed a small but positive trend, with retail parks continuing to perform the strongest out of all locations.
"This reflected the unseasonally warm and bright weather right across the UK. Retailers will be hoping this momentum continues into the summer months.'
While retail park visits saw a 2.7% increase nationally, shopping centres experienced a 0.7 per cent drop in visitor numbers, suggesting varied performance across different retail settings.
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic, added: 'The combination of Easter trading and the sunniest April on record helped entice consumers back into stores.
"Looking at March and April together however, the overall picture for the UK is more balanced, with footfall across the two months up just 0.2 per cent year-on-year.
"While this suggests that April's gains largely offset March's dip, it also highlights the importance of sustained engagement beyond seasonal peaks. Retailers will now be looking to build on this momentum as we move into the summer months.'
National retailer Next also reported strong results over the same period, citing the warm weather as a key factor behind a better-than-expected quarter.
Full-price sales rose by 11.4 per cent in the 13 weeks to April 26, generating £55 million more than forecast.
The group increased its full-year pre-tax profit guidance by £14 million to £1.08 billion and now expects sales to reach £5.4 billion, up from the previously expected £5.3 billion.
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However, Next issued a note of caution about future sales. 'We believe much of the over-performance in the first quarter has been the result of warmer weather, which has benefited the sale of summer-weight clothing.
"It is likely that some of these sales have been pulled forward from the second quarter. So, despite the strength of the first quarter, we are not increasing our sales guidance for the second quarter, or the rest of the year,' the company said.
Next also warned of potential pressures ahead as higher national insurance contributions and wage increases could affect consumer spending.
A spokesperson said: 'We continue to believe sales in the second half may come under pressure as the impact of the hike in national insurance will begin to filter through to the wider economy.'
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