June heatwave worsens fall in annual UK retail footfall
(Alliance News) - The decline in UK footfall deteriorated in June as shoppers preferred to stay indoors during the heatwave, data published by the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic showed on Friday.
Total UK footfall was down 3.4% on-year in June, accelerated from a 2.6% fall in May.
Notably, High Street footfall fell by 6.2% in June, after a 1.5% decline in May.
Retail Park footfall was down 0.3% in June, an improvement from May's 0.5% decline.
Shopping Centre footfall decreased by 2.5% in June, a touch worse than May's 2.4% fall.
Pertinently, footfall rose 1.7% on-year in Scotland. Footfall was down 0.9% in Northern Ireland, and declined by 2.3% in Wales and fell by 3.0% in England.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: "Footfall dropped in June as the record heatwave kept many shoppers indoors. High streets saw the sharpest declines, while air-conditioned shopping centres and retail parks proved more resilient.
"While London and the South East – where temperatures were highest – registered the biggest decline, other regions performed markedly better. Scotland saw footfall rise, buoyed by cooler weather and the continued gradual opening of Glasgow City Centre after March's devastating Union Corner fire.
She continued: "The heatwave may have affected footfall, but retailers face a bigger challenge: rising costs. Businesses are working hard to deliver value for customers, yet higher taxes and regulatory burdens are making it harder to invest, create jobs and grow. Government action on business rates and energy costs would help unlock investment to revive our local communities."
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Europe, the Middle East & Africa at Sensormatic, said: "While the hopes of some of the nation may be for football to come home, footfall appears to have stayed there at times. With key matches drawing attention - and occasionally keeping shoppers away - retail teams will be hoping that as the tournament moves on, consumers return in force.
"As we move into H2, the focus remains on converting more deliberate visits into meaningful spend."
By Tom Budszus, Alliance News slot editor
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