Retail still struggling to drive footfall despite British growth
HIGH streets are still recording declining footfall, with little boost from the robust economic growth recorded for the second and third quarters of the year.
Footfall in October was down 2.9 per cent across the sector, compared to the same month in 2012, according to data released today by Springboard and the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Retailers have now seen year-on-year declining footfall for the past three months. High streets have been most seriously affected, with a 3.6 per cent drop.
Every region in the UK reported that footfall had declined from the same month last year, barring the east of England, which saw a 0.8 per cent increase.
The vacancy rate in town centres also held steady at 11.1 per cent, with no effect recorded from recent economic growth.
Helen Dickinson, the BRC’s director general, said: “Although recent months have hinted at economic recovery, many of us are still cautious and keen to manage budgets ahead of Christmas.”
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