UK Heatwave Keeps Shoppers Home, High Street Takes a Hit!
UK Heatwave Keeps Shoppers Home, High Street Takes a Hit!
Scorching July temperatures meant fewer shoppers on UK high streets, with footfall down 2.1% nationally. London was particularly affected. Find out how the heatwave impacted retail!
Britain's retail sector continued to feel the heat in July, quite literally, as soaring temperatures kept shoppers away from high streets across the country. New figures reveal that total UK footfall declined by 2.1% year-on-year, a slight improvement from the 3.4% drop recorded in June.
The high street was particularly affected, experiencing a 3.8% annual decrease in footfall, though this was also better than June's 6.2% fall. Shopping centres saw a 1.4% year-on-year dip. Across the UK, England registered the weakest performance with an overall footfall reduction of 3%. London, in particular, faced a significant 5.3% decline, highlighting the ongoing challenges urban centers encounter during extreme heat.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), pointed out that the heatwave consistently impacted retail footfall, with high streets bearing the brunt. She noted that London was hit especially hard, as the scorching temperatures made public transport less appealing, leading many commuters and shoppers to simply stay home. However, she also highlighted that July's figures were an improvement compared to June, when record-breaking sunshine caused an even larger drop in footfall.
Dickinson also linked these trends to climate change, stating, “Climate change continues to deliver more and more extreme temperatures in the UK.” She added that retailers are responding by investing in solutions like air conditioning and more efficient refrigeration units, as well as broader sustainability initiatives to cut carbon emissions. She criticized the current business rates system, which she believes unfairly penalizes stores for such crucial investments, calling for government re-evaluation.
Andy Sumpter from Sensormatic confirmed the challenging trend, revealing that six out of the first seven months of this year have performed worse than the same period last year. He emphasized that the "exceptionally hot and historically dry weather" was likely a major factor discouraging people from making shopping trips.
