Retail footfall edged down 1% in May
UK retail footfall declined by 1% year-on-year in May to mark the first drop since February.
Figures released by the British Retail Consortium and Springboard in their retail footfall monitor show that high street footfall fell by 2% while footfall in shopping centres edged down 1.3%.
Meanwhile, retail parks were the only destinations to see growth with an uplift of 1.5%.
The BRC said the biggest movement was noticeable in the number of visitors to the high street, which after several months of growth, saw the steepest decline since June last year.
Helen Dickinson BRC chief executive added: “After the Easter boost in shopper numbers to retail destinations, footfall fell in May, which was mirrored in the month’s sales performance. But it wasn’t just shops that suffered; poor weather at the beginning of the month kept people indoors and made it a poor month for footfall in general with fewer people out and about.
“In an uncertain economic climate, retailers will be looking to the next Government to deliver on their commitment to fundamental reform of business rates; to implement a more sustainable system that allows for growth and investment.”
