A persistent heatwave during July continued to impact shopper footfall, especially on the high street, according to data analysis. UK-wide foot traffic decreased by 2.1% compared to the previous year, showing a slight improvement from June’s 3.4% decline, as reported by the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic data.
Specifically, high street footfall experienced a 3.8% drop year-on-year in July, an improvement from June’s 6.2% decline. Shopping center footfall also decreased by 1.4% compared to the previous year, showing a slight recovery from June’s 2.5% fall.
England recorded the lowest footfall performance among UK nations, with an overall decline of 3%, and London saw a significant 5.3% decrease. This trend underlines the challenges faced by major urban areas during prolonged periods of extreme heat, according to Sensormatic analysis.
Helen Dickinson, the CEO of BRC, highlighted the continued impact of the heatwave on retail footfall, particularly affecting high streets. She noted that London suffered notably due to the hot weather, leading to reduced public transport usage and prompting some consumers to stay at home.
Despite the challenges, there was a slight improvement in footfall compared to the previous month, which experienced a more substantial decline due to record-breaking sunshine.
Dickinson emphasized the growing impact of climate change in the UK, driving retailers to invest in measures like enhanced air conditioning and sustainability projects to reduce carbon emissions. She also criticized the current business rates system, which often penalizes stores for such eco-friendly investments, calling for governmental review and reform.
Andy Sumpter from Sensormatic highlighted that most months this year showed poorer footfall performance compared to the same period last year, with weather conditions playing a significant role in discouraging shopping trips, especially on high streets.
Sumpter noted the lack of a significant positive impact on retail from recent political changes, urging retailers to focus on converting limited foot traffic into substantial sales as the summer season progresses.