Dismal weather kept consumers away from the high street last month, prompting the steepest drop in shopper numbers since the end of 2010. The number of people visiting shops in March dropped 6% compared with the same month last year after strong winds and snow hit the UK. A survey of Visa card users indicated that consumer spending slid 2% in March, rounding off a poor start to the year for the retail sector. “A proportion of this was made up over Easter, with footfall in shopping centres and retail parks rising from last Easter. Mothercare and Homebase are also considering closing large numbers of stores.

Source: The Guardian April 15, 2018 22:52 UTC