Retail footfall down 0.6% in July
Retail footfall dropped by 0.6% year-on-year in July with high streets reporting the largest decline. This was a slight improvement on June when footfall dropped by 0.7%.
Figures released by the British Retail Consortium and Springboard show that high street footfall dropped by 1.7% in the month, which was consistent with the decline in June.
Footfall in shopping centres edged down 0.5% year-on-year compared to a 1.2% fall in June.
As in June, out-of town locations reported the only rise, with footfall increasing by 1.7% in July.
Never Miss a Retail Update!Meanwhile, the national town centre vacancy rate in the UK was 10.1% in July 2014, a decrease from April’s rate of 10.6%.
BRC director general Helen Dickinson said: “These results are a mixed bag, with footfall easing downwards in July but with the shop vacancy rate recording its best performance since our records began in July 2011.
“Footfall dipped 0.6% in July compared to the same period last year, albeit less pronounced than in June. Out-of-town destinations performed well, off the back of strong sales of furniture, home accessories and outdoor and garden items, while high streets and shopping malls dipped reflecting weaker sales of goods such as beauty products.”
Looking across the UK, three regions in England reported footfall above the UK average – South West (0.2%), North & Yorkshire (-0.1%) and the East Midlands (-0.3%). Greater London footfall edged down 1.8%.
While Scotland reported the greatest rise in regional footfall, up 4.4% year-on-year, Northern Ireland saw the biggest decline at 5.2% – the first decline since February. Footfall in Wales dropped by 1.4%
