Retail footfall in June was down 2.8% on the same month last year – the sharpest decline since February 2014.
That’s according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor, which found in the five weeks from 29 May to 2 July footfall was worse than the 0.3% rise in May.
High streets reported a 3.7% fall in footfall during the month , following by shopping centres, which recorded a 2.3% decline. Footfall in retail parks fell 1% in May – its worst performance since November 2013.
The best performing region was Wales which reported a 0.9% rise in footfall, improving on the 0.8% increase recorded in May. However, all other regions reported a decline during the month.
The West Midlands, Greater London and Scotland witnessed the sharpest footfall declines.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the BRC, said: “Despite today’s figures showing the deepest decline in footfall since February 2014, the same period has seen UK retail sales rise. June has seen many distractions from Euro 2016 to Wimbledon so heading out to the shops seems to have slipped down the priority list for many.
“In the coming months we all must redouble our efforts to remind customers that now is a great time to get out into their local communities.”
