Retail footfall for August was down 1.6% compared to a year ago, a further fall of 0.5% following on from the 1.1% fall reported in July.
Figures released by the British Retail Consortium and Springboard in their monthly footfall monitor reveal that both shopping centres and high streets reported a decline.
Footfall in high streets fell by 2.3% while shopping centre footfall dropped by 2.8% to reach its lowest level since January excluding Easter distortions.
Meanwhile, footfall in retail parks rose by 1.7% which was the slowest increase since May 2015 and below the three-month average of 2.5%.
Helen Dickinson, BRC director general, said: “The continued decline in footfall in shopping centres and on the high street is disappointing, but not surprising. The fact that the number of visitors to retail parks has dipped below the three month average is also a clear sign of a lack-lustre August.
However, it is worth noting that these figures do not take into account the last two days of August (the Sunday and Bank holiday Monday) which will, hopefully, add some cheer to the numbers in September.
These numbers are a clear demonstration of the continued pressures the UK retail industry is facing. We know that retailers are steadily maintaining sales but at lower prices and to fewer people visiting physical stores.”
Across the UK, the East Midlands were the only region to report positive footfall growth at 0.04%.
Northern Ireland and Wales footfall improved evidently, with a rise to -2.4% from respective declines 4.5% and 4.4% in July. Scotland stated footfall above the UK average for the first time since April 2015, with an upsurge to -1.5% from the 2.4% increase seen in June and July.
