UK shoppers run for cover over rainy Bank Holiday weekend
RETAILERS were dealt a fresh blow over the Bank Holiday weekend as the wet weather put shoppers off visiting the high street.
Footfall across Greater London high streets was down by 38 per cent at midday yesterday and fell by 16.5 per cent for the rest of the UK year-on-year, data from retail analysts Springboard shows.
Shopping centres suffered the biggest drop in footfall – down 45 per cent in London and 23 per cent for the UK – despite enjoying a 3.7 per cent rise in visitors on Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 May.
Out of town retail parks fared the best, with UK footfall up 4.5 per cent on Monday and by 10.1 per cent over the two previous days as shoppers came in search of home products.
“Fashion-driven locations are more vulnerable while retail parks are more resilient, helped by the housing market,” Springboard’s Diane Wehrle said.
Sunday was the best day thanks to the warmer weather, with footfall rising 4.7 per cent, up from an 8.3 per cent decline on the Saturday.