The return of the workplace commute helped to convey folks again to excessive streets and city centres final month, however shopper numbers stay stubbornly beneath pre-pandemic ranges, new figures present.

The variety of folks going to outlets was up 10.4 per cent final month, in contrast with February final 12 months, however is 8.8 per cent down on 2019 ranges, in keeping with the newest BRC-Sensormatic IQmonitor.

The restoration was sharpest in conventional excessive streets and purchasing centres, up by 17.8 per cent and 11.7 per cent, respectively, and pushed by the return of commuters to places of work.

This was balanced by a decline in using out-of-town retail parks. Seen as safer options to busy excessive streets throughout the pandemic, they skilled a 3.3 per cent decline in numbers final month.

Chilly climate, the excessive price of dwelling and a looming rise in family power payments contributed to maintaining consumers away.

Helen Dickinson, chief govt of the British Retail Consortium, mentioned: “Development in footfall slowed this month after the frenzy of Christmas purchasing and January gross sales. Some individuals are making fewer visits as the price of dwelling continues to bear down forward of the April power worth rise.” She mentioned retailers have been investing of their “retailer expertise” however client confidence was weak and it was “important” that the federal government didn’t burden the retail trade with further regulatory prices that hinder funding.

Richard Lim, a retail analyst, mentioned the info confirmed staff have been being “inspired to get again into the workplace not less than two or thrice per week”.

A central London “again to the workplace” benchmark by Springboard discovered final month that footfall exercise at workplace hotspots had risen as staff returned to places of work.

UK client confidence rebounded in February to its highest stage in nearly a 12 months, though GfK, the analysis group, mentioned it was “nonetheless severely depressed”.