According to the latest BRC-Sensormatic IQ data, total UK retail footfall decreased by -10.5% in June (Yo3Y), a 2.0 percentage point improvement from May, and better than the three-month average decline of -11.8%.
Footfall on high streets declined by 13.9% Yo3Y, retail parks saw footfall decrease by -8.1% Yo3Y, and shopping centre footfall declined by -24.1% Yo3Y.
England again saw the shallowest footfall decline of the four nations at -9.9%, followed by Wales at -12.7% and Northern Ireland at -14.7%. Scotland again saw the steepest decline, at -15.8%.
Helen Dickinson OBE, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, says: “The cost-of-living crisis appears to be driving more people to shop around for the best deals both online and in-store, with the number of visits to individual shops rising in June. This was boosted by the Jubilee celebrations and summer heatwave, which more than compensated for the impact of the rail strikes on city centre footfall. However, this has not translated into in-store and online sales, with volumes down significantly in recent months as consumers tightened their belts.
“Rising inflation, particularly soaring energy costs, is limiting customer spending power and damaging consumer confidence. This is only set to worsen in October as the energy price cap rises and the colder weather increases usage. With many people struggling, retailers are doing all they can to support their most vulnerable customers – from expanding value ranges to offering discounts to vulnerable groups, raising staff pay and investing in lower prices for the future.”
