Retail footfall down 3.5% in May
UK retail footfall dropped by 3.5% in May to mark the worst decline in six years.
The figures from the British Retail Consortium and Springboard reveal that high streets suffered the most with a fall of 4.8%.
Meanwhile, footfall in shopping centres and retail parks declined by 3.6% and 0.8% respectively.
Helen Dickinson, BRC chief executive, said: “The UK experienced the worst footfall figures in six years, with declines in every region, and across high streets, retail parks and shopping centres. This reflects our recent sales data, which showed the largest drop in retail sale on record. The colder weather, as well as ongoing political and economic uncertainty, made many consumers think twice before heading out to the shops this May.”
The most significant drop in footfall happened after 5pm when it declined by 4.5%.
Diane Wehrle, Springboard marketing and insights director, added: “It is clear that consumers are being ever more discerning in their dining habits, and recent failures in the sector indicate both the level of competition and suggests that the everyday dining operators need to provide a more tempting food offer keep customers for the post 5pm spend slot.”
