Sheffield BID is pleased to present the April 2025 edition of the BID Barometer, our snap shot report designed to provide insights and trends around customer spending, sector performance, customer catchment areas, and customer demographics.
The BID Barometer is produced in response to feedback from our BID levy payers, who have expressed the need for more detailed and actionable data beyond traditional footfall metrics. While footfall data has been a useful indicator, it often serves as a blunt measure of city centre performance.
To address this, Sheffield BID has partnered with Beauclair to bridge the data gap and deliver more nuanced insights.
Each monthly report provides summary metrics that highlight key trends. Additionally, the data can be analysed in greater detail to create tailored reports that address the specific needs of individual businesses and decision makers.
Highlights from April's data include:
Spend performance year to date:
Sheffield city centre has demonstrated economic resilience and growth in the first four months of 2025, consistently outperforming regional and national benchmarks.
Key highlights
- January 2025: Spending reached £16.8 million, marking a 3.1% increase compared to January 2024. In contrast, Leeds saw a decline of 6.3%, and the GB benchmark fell by 3.2%.
- February 2025: Spending rose to £18.0 million, up 0.6% from February 2024, while Leeds experienced a 5.4% decrease and the GB benchmark dropped by 5.6%.
- March 2025: Sheffield's spending surged to £20.2 million, a 3.4% increase from March 2024. Leeds recorded a 5.1% decline, and the GB benchmark decreased by 4.6%.
- April 2025: Spending amounted to £19.0 million, up 1.9% from April 2024, with Leeds down by 3.5% and the GB benchmark falling by 3.1%.
These figures underscore Sheffield's robust economic performance and its attractiveness as a prime destination for shopping and business activities. The consistent growth in spending reflects increased consumer confidence and successful local business initiatives.
Diane Jarvis, Sheffield BID:
"We are thrilled to see Sheffield city centre thriving and bucking the trend seen in other major cities and national benchmarks. This growth reflects the positive impact of all the collective efforts to support local businesses and improve the city centre experience for both residents and visitors."
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