Footfall down 1% in May as high street slumps

Retail footfall in the UK fell for the second month in a row, according to British Retail Consortium figures. 

The BRC and Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor reported a 1% decline in footfall in May, down from 0.8% fall in May and below the three-month average of 0.5%.

Both high streets and shopping centres reported a decline in shoppers, down 1.5% and 2% respectively. Despite this, footfall in out-of-town locations continued to fare well with a 1.4% increase on the same month last year, an improvement on the 0.5% rise in April.

Only three regions in the UK reported footfall growth, the East (2%), Greater London (0.8%) and the East Midlands (0.2%).

Helen Dickinson, director general at the BRC, said: “The pace of change in the way we shop shows no sign of slowing. In fact, today’s figures show the rate of decline in shopper numbers on our high streets and in shopping centres has slightly increased.

“Local government, town centre managers and retailers will need to continue to work together to refine their high street offer and give customers practical, positive reasons to return.”