The decline in UK retail footfall worsened In October, according to latest figures, as poor weather kept shoppers away from the high street.
According to the latest British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic IQ tracker, UK retail footfall declined 5.7% year on year in October, worse than September's 2.9% fall.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive at the BRC, said: “Umbrellas were up as heavy rainfall descended across the UK in October, leading many shoppers to stay at home.”
High street footfall slipped by 4.6% in October, after a 1.1% fall in September while in retail parks, footfall decreased by 4.3% in October, worsening from September's 2.4% decline.
Footfall in shopping centres dipped 7.3%, compared to September's 4.0% fall.
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant at Sensormatic Solutions, commented that shopper traffic was regionally impacted by Storm Babet, which delivered the most severe and widespread disruptive weather of the year to date.
“The ongoing cost-of-living pressure continues, despite inflationary easing, to impact shopper behaviour through October,” he added.
He noted consumers appear to be visiting fewer stores during each trip, suggesting a shift away from shopping around for the best deals toward more focused purchasing.