Figures released by the British Retail Consortium and Springboard revealed that the retail footfall dropped by 0.6% year-on-year in July with high streets reporting the largest decline.
The high street footfall dropped by 1.7% in the month, which was consistent with the decline in June.
Footfall in shopping centres edged down 0.5% year-on-year compared to a 1.2% fall in June and out-of town locations reported the only rise, with footfall increasing by 1.7%.
BRC director general Helen Dickinson said: “These results are a mixed bag, with footfall easing downwards in July but with the shop vacancy rate recording its best performance since our records began in July 2011.
“Footfall dipped 0.6% in July compared to the same period last year, albeit less pronounced than in June. Out-of-town destinations performed well, off the back of strong sales of furniture, home accessories and outdoor and garden items, while high streets and shopping malls dipped reflecting weaker sales of goods such as beauty products.”
