Footfall in June was 1.5% lower than a year ago, down from the 1.0% fall in May. Both shopping centres and high streets reported a decline, falling 2.4% and 2.8% respectively.
Footfall in retail parks fared the best with a 2.8% increase year-on-year, an improvement on the 1.4% rise in May.
All regions and nations saw a decline in footfall in June, however five of the seven regions reported footfall above the UK average.
Northern Ireland and Wales reported notable declines in footfall, down 3.5% and 3.0% respectively.
Helen Dickinson, British Retail Consortium director general, says: “Retail Parks have seen another increase in shopper numbers this month – which is good news for the retailers operating in these areas. However, the fundamental shift in the way people are shopping seems to be driving the sustained reduction in shopper numbers to both high streets and shopping centres. This is a clear demonstration that the re-invention of the high street is far from complete. The process of creating multi-use destinations in the heart of our towns and cities needs to continue in earnest if people are going to be drawn back to the high street. This has happened in some areas, but the energy and effort behind sharing best practice needs to be redoubled.”
Diane Wehrle, Marketing and Insights director at Springboard, says: “On the surface an overall drop in footfall of 1.5% does not appear to be hugely detrimental, however, it belies the long term decline in the attractiveness of urban retail destinations to shoppers. The drop in footfall in high streets of 2.8% and in shopping centres of 2.4% is undoubtedly a function of the continuing dilution of shopper numbers through online trading. At the same time, however, the rise in footfall of 2.8% in retail parks in June – the 18th successive month in which footfall has increased - is clear evidence that it is still possible to drive up the volume of customers to bricks and mortar stores, albeit in part this is a function of owner driven improvements in their quality and offer.
“Due to the multiplicity of ownerships and interests, it is not possible for high streets to easily benefit from wholesale owner driven change, although this is something that shopping centres should be more able to capitalise on. Inevitably, however, this type of change is a longer term goal, and so in the short term retailers need to compare and contrast locations in terms of footfall to understand which ones are withstanding the growing structural changes in the retail sector and so represent the best opportunities for growth and expansion.”
All regions and nations saw a decline in footfall in June, although five out of seven regions reported footfall above the UK average. The West Midlands and the South West were the only regions to report an improvement in footfall between May and June. Footfall in Greater London and the East reported the greatest declines on a regional basis, both falling into negative territory after positive footfall growth in May. All three nations reported footfall below the UK average, with a notable decline seen in Northern Ireland, falling 3.1 percentage points to -3.5%. Wales reported an improvement in footfall, reporting its best rate in three months.
