Retail footfall fell for the twelfth month in a row in July, with the British Retail Consortium (BRC) blaming the General Election for impacting consumer confidence.
The BRC reports that total UK footfall decreased by 3.3 per cent in July (YoY), down from -2.3 per cent in June, and high street footfall decreased by 2.7 per cent in July (YoY), up from -3.1 per cent in June.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said: “Footfall declined for the twelfth consecutive month, failing to maintain the buoyancy seen in 2022/23. As summer got into full swing, many people have chosen to increase their spending on holidays and leisure activities rather than shopping. Election week also saw particularly weak footfall, as political electioneering peaked, creating uncertainty for many consumers.”
All UK nations saw a fall in footfall year on year:
- Scotland decreased by 2.3 per cent YoY
- Northern Ireland decreased by 2.2 per cent YoY
- England decreased by 3.4 per cent YoY – the largest fall in footfall
- Wales decreased by 3.2 per cent YoY
Ms Dickinson added: “With the election now over, many retailers will be making decisions about how and where to invest in the coming years. Retailers welcomed Labour’s promises to reform both business rates and planning laws – two major factors that often hold back much needed local investment. If Labour can address these effectively, they could help breathe new life into retail destinations.”
