Retail footfall down 2.6% in December
New figures have revealed that December retail footfall was down 2.6% year-on-year.
The data from the British Retail Consortium and Springboard shows that the drop marked a thirteenth consecutive month of decline.
Footfall in high streets and retail parks both fell by 2.1% while shopping centre footfall was down 3.9%.
Diane Wehrle, Springboard marketing and insights director, said: “The 2.6% decline in footfall in December 2018 the ninth in ten years, and the seventh consecutive year of decline – is undeniably strong evidence that retailers can no longer rely on Christmas trading to redeem revenue lost earlier in the year.”
Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, added: “Many well-known brands have disappeared from our high streets, and without government intervention there will be more to come. Government should take action by reforming the broken business rates system and ensuring consumers and retailers retain tariff free, frictionless trade with the EU after March 29.”
