A persistent heatwave continued to impact shopper foot traffic in July, with a notable decline in high street visits, new data reveals. Total UK footfall decreased by 2.1% compared to the previous year, showing an improvement from June’s 3.4% drop, according to the latest information from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic.

In particular, high street footfall saw a 3.8% decrease year-on-year in July, an improvement from June’s 6.2% decline. Shopping center foot traffic also experienced a decline of 1.4% compared to the previous year, showing a better performance than June’s 2.5% decrease.

England recorded the weakest footfall performance across the UK, with a 3% overall decline, while London saw a significant 5.3% drop, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by major urban areas during extreme heat spells, as reported by Sensormatic.

Helen Dickinson, the CEO of the BRC, commented on the situation, stating that the heatwave continued to impact retail footfall in July, with high streets bearing the brunt of the consequences. She mentioned that London faced particular difficulties due to the hot temperatures, leading to reduced interest in tube and train travel and prompting some commuters and shoppers to stay home.

Dickinson noted that despite the challenges, the figures for July showed improvement compared to the previous month, where footfall had dropped by an even larger margin due to record-breaking sunshine.

She highlighted the increasing impact of climate change on extreme temperatures in the UK, with retailers responding by investing in measures like improved air conditioning and sustainability initiatives to reduce carbon emissions. Dickinson also pointed out the issue of business rates penalizing stores for such investments, emphasizing the need for the government to review this system.

Andy Sumpter from Sensormatic revealed that most months of this year had lower footfall compared to the same period last year, attributing the trend to the unusually hot and dry weather discouraging shopping trips and particularly affecting high streets. He mentioned the importance for retailers to focus on converting these selective visits into substantial spending as summer progresses.

As the UK transitions to a new prime minister, the retail sector is yet to witness a significant boost in consumer activity. Retailers are advised to concentrate on maximizing sales from the reduced foot traffic during the summer months.