UK retail footfall continues to slump ahead of Budget

(Sharecast News) - Weak consumer confidence and uncertainty arising from the upcoming Autumn Budget prompted a steeper drop in footfall across the UK's high streets, retail parks and shopping centres in September, according to data from the British Retail Consortium on Friday. According to the monthly BRC-Sensormatic Footfall Monitor, overall footfall fell by 1.8% year-on-year last month, worse than the 0.4% annual decline posted in August.

Footfall across UK high streets was down 2.5% on last year, following a 1.1% increase the previous month, retail park footfall fell 0.8% after a previous 1.1% decline, while shopping centre traffic slipped 2.0% after no growth in August.

Footfall fell across all nations again in September compared with the year before: -0.5% in Northern Ireland, -1.8% in England, -2.3% in Scotland and -2.5% in Wales.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said speculation about possible tax rises in November's Budget was keeping shoppers away during the month.

"Tube strikes in London, heavy rainfall in the first half of September and Storm Amy towards the end of the month exacerbated the decline," she said.

Dickinson blamed the £5bn in additional employer costs imposed on the retail industry from the last Budget for the lack of investment in local communities and high streets.

"For retailers to invest in shopping destinations that will entice shoppers back, the government imposed cost burdens holding back that investment must be lifted. The upcoming Budget is the moment for the Chancellor to do just that, deliver the Labour manifesto commitment of a meaningful reduction in business rates for the industry and ensure no shop pays more in the process," she said.