The UK’s non-food retail market boomed this year, with year on year footfall growth the strongest it’s been since 2004.

The numbers were up 1.3% on October last year and 5.7% on the previous month according to Ipsos Retail Performance, which compiles the Retail Traffic Index of 4,000 non-food retail stores individual shoppers.

The report believes this market gain will leave retailers well placed as they move into the ‘Golden Quarter’. Both the economy and the retail sector appear to be beginning to make sustained improvement.

The report does concede that in some quarters heavy discounting and unplanned promotional activity caused exceptional increases in traffic.

The North of England maintained its position, leading year on year growth with a rise in footfall of 5.4% this reaffirmed the belief that decline in footfall in the region has been stemmed.

"After a disappointing September, it's good to see retail footfall bounce back immediately, Official sales figures show that Christmas 2013 was the best for the high street since 2004. With footfall seemingly back on the ascendency, this year is shaping up to be a shade better than 2013 and it couldn't come at a better time for retailers.”

 - Ipsos Director Dr Tim Denison. 

The last week in October prevailed as being the busiest of the month, likely due to Halloween and Half-Term coinciding. Footfall was 1.2% up year-on-year and 16.6% up on the previous week.