UK retailers suffer ‘summer slump’ as footfall falls in June

The latest BRC-Springboard Footfall and Vacancies Monitor showed that footfall declined by 2.9% in June, compared to the same point last year where it was down by 0.9%.

Both the high street and shopping centres were affected, with footfall declining 4.5% and 2.4% year on year respectively. However, retail parks offered a glimmer of hope for the sector, seeing a 0.1% upturn.

On a rolling three-month basis, footfall across the UK fell 2.4%. The six-month average was down 1.3%, while the 12-month average was down 1.7%.

BRC boss Helen Dickinson lamented the “poor” early summer weather and said high streets and shopping centres needed to “invest in improving their customer experience” if footfall numbers were to improve.

She said: “Poor footfall this June led to a significant fall in the sales figures for the month. High streets were worst hit by the relatively poor June weather, with shopping centres also performing badly; however, retail parks managed to buck the trend. Last year’s World Cup and glorious sunshine set a high bar, which 2019’s slow consumer spending and Brexit uncertainty failed to live up to.

“High streets and shopping centres across the country need to invest in improving their consumer experience if they wish to see these footfall numbers reverse. Unfortunately, high business rates, as well as a raft of other public policy costs, mean there is little left over to spend on these improvements.

“If the government wants to see more investment on the high street, then they must reform the broken business rates system and give firms the means to make the necessary improvements.”