Footfall to shopping centres last week fell significantly with an annual decline of 8.3%, according to the latest Springboard Shopping Centre Index.
The research found falls of between 3.3% in the West Midlands and 14.2% in the East.
Springboard said that the movement of Mothering Sunday was likely to have been a contributing factor to the fall in figures, as families bought gifts in the run up to the event.
In 2015, Mothering Sunday was a week later than in 2016 and 2014, the impact of which was noticeable in a rise of 5.2% in shopping centres in 2015.
Overall footfall to all locations fell by 6.6% led by severe declines on the High Street and shopping centres, which were down 7.1% and 8.3% respectively.
Retail park visitors also fell by 2.9%, their first decline since mid-December and the lowest drop since April 2015 when numbers declined 5.5%.
