UK retail footfall fell 2.9% year-on-year in September, as inflation, fuel costs and household bills continued to weigh on shoppers, according to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic.
The decline was significantly steeper than August’s 1.7% fall, with footfall down across all major retail destination types.
High street footfall fell 3% year-on-year, a slight improvement on August’s 3.1% decline. Retail park visits were down 1.7%, while shopping centre footfall fell 3.5%, compared with a 0.5% decline in August.
By nation, footfall fell 3.4% in England, 3% in Wales and 0.7% in Scotland. Northern Ireland was the only nation to record growth, with footfall increasing 2.1%.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive at the BRC, said: “September was sluggish for footfall as the end of summer saw fewer shoppers heading out.
“While some seasonal slowdown is expected, this September saw a sharp decline compared to last year, with high streets and shopping centres suffering most.”
Dickinson said retailers would continue to focus on value and choice as they entered the final quarter of the year, but warned that rising business costs were limiting their ability to invest.
“But until Government acts to reduce the cost of doing business, retailers are fighting with one hand tied behind their backs,” she said.
She added that the Chancellor could use the Autumn Budget to avoid another increase in business rates, helping retailers invest in shops and high streets, keep prices down and support jobs.
Andy Sumpter, Head of Consulting and Analytics at Sensormatic, said September had been another challenging month for UK retail destinations, with footfall declining across all major location types.
Although temperatures remained above seasonal norms, Sumpter noted that retailers could not attribute the performance to the weather.
“Instead, consumers appear increasingly focused on broader economic concerns, including the continued impact of inflation, household spending pressures, fuel costs and uncertainty ahead of the autumn Budget,” he said.
Sumpter added that retailers would face increased pressure to turn seasonal demand into store visits and spending as the industry entered the crucial ‘Golden Quarter’.
The figures follow wider signs of pressure on the retail sector. Earlier this month, retail was ranked Europe’s most distressed sector amid rising costs, weak consumer demand and pressure on profitability.