Shoppers count the cost of a summer of spending
Figures released today by FootFall, show that the traditional post holiday lull in shopper levels has once again affected the high street.
Natasha Burton, spokesperson for FootFall, comments: “In line with previous years, footfall levels fell last week as the new school term began and consumers focused on paying off summer credit card bills, counting the cost of summer holidays and the expense of the new school term. The prolonged warm weather continues to stifle demand for Autumn clothing ranges and living costs have risen, largely due to higher domestic fuel and mortgage bills.
“We would expect shoppers to slowly return to the High Street over the coming weeks, in the build up to the half-term holidays and Halloween, with many retailers having already taken delivery of themed merchandise in anticipation of a surge in demand. Generally, the outlook for retailers remains positive with transport fuel costs coming down and the continued buoyancy of the housing market consolidating consumer confidence levels.
“The 3% fall in shopper numbers year-on-year keeps 2006 levels in line with 2004, a trend which has been sustained since early June.”
Retail FootFall Index – UK National Weekly (4th September – 10th September 2006): Change for week 35 week-on-week:- 5.0%
Change for week 35 year-on-year: – 3.0%
