Menu
19/02/2013
NI Shopper Numbers Decline
Shopper numbers in Northern Ireland throughout January showed a 1.4% decline on the same month a year ago, according to the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium.
The decline indicated a fall from the 0.6% rise in December of last year.
Vacancy rates in Northern Ireland also fell from 20% in October to 17.2%.
The figures reflect the overall pattern for the whole of the UK, as high street businesses struggled to stay afloat amid a month of snow.
Footfall in January was 4.6% lower than a year ago; a poorer performance than the 1.2% fall in December. This is the weakest footfall figure since April 2012 when shopper numbers declined 6.9%.
Out-of-town locations reported the greatest fall (-7.2%) followed by shopping centres (-5.2%) and high street (-3.3%) locations.
The national town centre vacancy rate in the UK was 10.9% in January 2013, down from 11.3% in October 2012.
Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said: "At first glance, the slight fall in shopper numbers may not look too bad compared against the UK average, but the devil's in the detail. When compared against the previous quarter, where shopper numbers leapt up by a promising 14.4%, this drop is bitterly disappointing and signals that continuing violence in Northern Ireland is continuing to impact on footfall and sales. Most worryingly, it's damaging the image of the country as a place to invest and do business.
But Mr Connolly added: "It's encouraging to see the Northern Ireland vacancy rate is down on the record high of October 2012, when we saw one in five shops standing empty in our town centres."
(IT/GK)
The decline indicated a fall from the 0.6% rise in December of last year.
Vacancy rates in Northern Ireland also fell from 20% in October to 17.2%.
The figures reflect the overall pattern for the whole of the UK, as high street businesses struggled to stay afloat amid a month of snow.
Footfall in January was 4.6% lower than a year ago; a poorer performance than the 1.2% fall in December. This is the weakest footfall figure since April 2012 when shopper numbers declined 6.9%.
Out-of-town locations reported the greatest fall (-7.2%) followed by shopping centres (-5.2%) and high street (-3.3%) locations.
The national town centre vacancy rate in the UK was 10.9% in January 2013, down from 11.3% in October 2012.
Aodhán Connolly, Director of the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium said: "At first glance, the slight fall in shopper numbers may not look too bad compared against the UK average, but the devil's in the detail. When compared against the previous quarter, where shopper numbers leapt up by a promising 14.4%, this drop is bitterly disappointing and signals that continuing violence in Northern Ireland is continuing to impact on footfall and sales. Most worryingly, it's damaging the image of the country as a place to invest and do business.
But Mr Connolly added: "It's encouraging to see the Northern Ireland vacancy rate is down on the record high of October 2012, when we saw one in five shops standing empty in our town centres."
(IT/GK)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
14 January 2014
Christmas Shopper Numbers Fall
Christmas shopper numbers in Northern Ireland in 2013 were 8.7% lower than the previous year, according to figures released by the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC). For the whole of the UK, footfall in December was 2.4% lower than in 2012, up on the 2.9% fall in November and marginally above the three-month average of -2.7%.
Christmas Shopper Numbers Fall
Christmas shopper numbers in Northern Ireland in 2013 were 8.7% lower than the previous year, according to figures released by the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC). For the whole of the UK, footfall in December was 2.4% lower than in 2012, up on the 2.9% fall in November and marginally above the three-month average of -2.7%.
15 September 2014
NI's Shopper Numbers Increase
A new report has found that the number of people visiting shops in Northern Ireland increased by 4.2% in August. The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) said it was an improvement on the 5.2% fall recorded in July. The surge in footfall, which is the number of people visiting shops, was also higher than the UK average.
NI's Shopper Numbers Increase
A new report has found that the number of people visiting shops in Northern Ireland increased by 4.2% in August. The latest figures from the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) said it was an improvement on the 5.2% fall recorded in July. The surge in footfall, which is the number of people visiting shops, was also higher than the UK average.
16 December 2013
Shopper Numbers Drop Over 6%
November 2013 saw shopper numbers in Northern Ireland fall 6.3% compared to a year ago, according to new statistics released by the Northern Ireland retail Consortium (NIRC). Footfall was up on the 9.8% decline in October 2013, but Northern Ireland's figures are still lower than the whole of the UK, where shopper numbers were down 2.9%.
Shopper Numbers Drop Over 6%
November 2013 saw shopper numbers in Northern Ireland fall 6.3% compared to a year ago, according to new statistics released by the Northern Ireland retail Consortium (NIRC). Footfall was up on the 9.8% decline in October 2013, but Northern Ireland's figures are still lower than the whole of the UK, where shopper numbers were down 2.9%.
15 July 2013
Drop In NI Shopper Numbers
In June, shopper numbers in Northern Ireland were 5.9% lower than a year ago, down from a 3.1% decline in May 2013, according to the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC). The figures are considerably worse than the whole UK where shopper numbers were up 0.1%. In the UK footfall in June was 0.1% higher than a year ago, up from a 0.
Drop In NI Shopper Numbers
In June, shopper numbers in Northern Ireland were 5.9% lower than a year ago, down from a 3.1% decline in May 2013, according to the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC). The figures are considerably worse than the whole UK where shopper numbers were up 0.1%. In the UK footfall in June was 0.1% higher than a year ago, up from a 0.
13 February 2015
NI Shopping Numbers Fall
January saw footfall on Northern Ireland's high streets drop, as shopper numbers fell 2.4% on a year ago and were down on the 1.2% rise in December 2014. The vacancy rate in Northern Ireland was 16.3%, which showed a marginal improvement on the previous quarter. The figures were released by the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC).
NI Shopping Numbers Fall
January saw footfall on Northern Ireland's high streets drop, as shopper numbers fell 2.4% on a year ago and were down on the 1.2% rise in December 2014. The vacancy rate in Northern Ireland was 16.3%, which showed a marginal improvement on the previous quarter. The figures were released by the Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC).
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
