June heatwave left high street cold, says report

June’s record heatwave brought a blow to retailers as uncomfortable temperatures kept shoppers away from the high street, according to latest figures.

Total UK footfall was down 3.4 per cent year-on-year last month, with the high street suffering the sharpest 6.2 per cent decline in shopper numbers.

The findings, revealed in British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic data, also showed air-conditioned shopping centres and retail parks proved more resilient, with visitors down 2.5 per cent and 0.3 per cent respectively on last June.

Scotland was the only nation to experience a rise in overall footfall, up 1.7 per cent, with Northern Ireland, Wales and England seeing declines of 0.9 per cent, 2.3 per cent and three per cent respectively.

Helen Dickinson, British Retail Consortium chief executive, said: “The heatwave may have affected footfall, but retailers face a bigger challenge: rising costs.

“Businesses are working hard to deliver value for customers, yet higher taxes and regulatory burdens are making it harder to invest, create jobs and grow.

“Government action on business rates and energy costs would help unlock investment to revive our local communities.”

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