Britain’s retailers are pressing Chancellor John Healey for urgent tax relief after footfall across the country fell again in August despite cooler temperatures drawing shoppers out.
Total UK footfall declined by 1.7 per cent year on year last month, according to data published by the British Retail Consortium.
The drop was less severe than July’s 2.2 per cent annual decline, but the trade body warned the figures underline the need for Treasury action ahead of next month’s Budget.
High streets bore the brunt of the slowdown, with footfall slumping by 3.1 per cent year on year as consumers continued to stay away from town and city centres.
Retail parks fared considerably better, recording a one per cent increase in visits compared to the same period last year, suggesting shoppers still prefer out-of-town destinations.
London suffered the steepest regional fall in England, with footfall dropping 4.9 per cent, while the east of the country recorded a gain of 1.9 per cent.
Andy Sumpter, head of analytics at EMEA for Sensormatic, which produces the BRC’s data, said cooler temperatures were likely behind August’s marginal footfall improvement.
July’s sweltering conditions had pushed consumers away from in-person shopping entirely, delivering a significant boost to e-commerce platforms across the country.
Sumpter cautioned that any improvement remained fragile against the enormous pressures retailers continue to face, including higher business rates bills and soaring employment costs.
“The challenge for retailers remains unchanged: converting a modest improvement in footfall into meaningful spend as the industry’s most important trading season draws nearer,” he said.
The BRC has urged Chancellor Healey to reverse some of the hikes to employer National Insurance Contributions introduced by his predecessor Rachel Reeves, while other trade bodies have called for broader business rates reform.
Andy Burnham has pledged to rejuvenate Britain’s high streets, though his policy commitments so far have focused primarily on pubs, bars, and live music venues.
Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s chief executive, said: “Retailers don’t need warm words, they need lower costs. With his first Budget weeks away, Chancellor Healey has a chance to throw Britain’s high streets a lifeline.”
Dickinson added: “Retail faces cost pressures and households are watching every penny. Government action on business rates and energy costs would help keep prices down, support investment, and sustain the jobs and communities that retail underpins across the country.”
With the critical Christmas trading period approaching, industry leaders say the window for meaningful government intervention is rapidly narrowing.