UK footfall was hit by the record sunshine over May, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Total UK footfall fell 2.6 per cent year over year (YoY) from 3 to 30 May, BRC-Sensormatic data revealed. However, this was up from 10.7 per cent in April.
High street footfall decreased by 1.5 per cent YoY in May, up from -9.2 per cent the month prior.
Retail park footfall also declined by 0.5 per cent YoY over May, rising from -9.0 per cent in April.
Additionally, shopping centre footfall dropped by 2.4 per cent YoY in May, up from -10.1 per cent the month before.
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Footfall rose by 0.4 per cent YoY in Scotland, while it dropped by 1 per cent in Northern Ireland, 3 per cent in England, and 5 per cent in Wales.
BRC CEO Helen Dickinson said: “While total UK footfall remained down on last year, it was a significant improvement on April’s double-digit drop.
“While the warmer weather initially encouraged more people to the shops, the record-breaking temperatures at the end of the month resulted in a sharp decline in footfall, particularly at shopping centres and retail parks.
“Only high streets bucked the trend, as those who were out and about took the opportunity to pop into their local stores.”
She added: “Households remain anxious about the long-term impact of the Iran conflict and inflation and expect prices to rise over the year.
“By tackling the inflationary pressures on the horizon, government can help rebuild consumer confidence, ultimately supporting footfall.
“The first priority must be to address non-commodity charges which are pushing up energy costs to an unsustainable level.
“The window for government to act is narrowing, and any delay will only harm retailers and their customers.”
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