Retail footfall in Wales has continued to rise after latest figures showed a continued growth trajectory, although remaining well below pre-pandemic levels. Data for March from the Welsh Retail Consortium shows that, compared with the previous year, footfall increased by 9.1%.
This was the second highest of any nation or region of the UK - behind only Scotland which experienced a 12% rise. For the UK as a whole, the rise was 6.8% year-on-year. For England it was 6.5% and Northern Ireland 7%.
Based on cities, Cardiff was ranked fourth best for growth in the UK at 6.8% year-on-year, only behind Edinburgh (24.4%), Glasgow (11.9%), and London (7.8%). Compared to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, total Welsh footfall remains 9.3% lower, with shopping centres down 28.5%. Cardiff remains 11.6% lower.
