An expected post-Easter decline in shopper activity was compounded by unseasonably cold weather last month. Retail foot traffic decreased 10.1 percent in April compared to March 2013, deviating from previous positive month-over-month retail traffic trends. Foot traffic for April 2013 decreased 0.4 percent compared to the same month in 2012.
Easter — and all the shopping that goes with it — often falls in the month of April. This year, however, the holiday was in March. Considering the lack of Easter retail activity in April 2013, this year’s shopper traffic results were stronger than last year’s results. On a year-over-year basis, shopper traffic for April declined a very small amount.
“In May, we should see people fulfilling those postponed spring clothing and merchandises purchases as Memorial Day and summer approach," says ShopperTrak founder Bill Martin.