Retail footfall fell again in June in the latest blow for the high street as cooler weather failed to live up to last summer’s heatwave.
Retail footfall declined by 2.9 per cent in June this year compared to a dip of 0.9 per cent in 2018, according to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium and Springboard.
High street footfall dropped at an even steeper rate of 4.5 per cent, down from an increase of 0.1 per cent, as June’s colder weather failed match the 2018’s soaring temperatures.
Shopping centres were also badly affected by a decline in visits, which dropped by 2.4 per cent following a decline of 3.4 per cent the previous year.
Retail parks managed to buck the negative trend last month, as footfall increased by 0.1 per cent.
British Retail Consortium chief executive Helen Dickenson said: “Poor footfall this June led to a significant fall in the sales figures for the month.
“High streets were worst hit by the relatively poor June weather, with shopping centres also performing badly, however, retail parks managed to buck the trend.
“Last year’s World Cup and glorious sunshine set a high bar, which 2019’s slow consumer spending and Brexit uncertainty failed to live up to.”
However, analysts said the decline could be expected to be more dramatic in the current uncertain political and economic environment. The year-to-date decline is 1.4 per cent, an improvement on the 2.1 per cent drop the previous year.
Springboard marketing and insights director Diane Wehrle said: “Given the exceptional and ongoing disruptive political and economic period we are facing coupled with unprecedented structural changes in the retail sector, we might actually expect consumer activity to take an even greater hit.”
