Storms and soaring costs combine to send shopper footfall sliding in October

Shopper footfall fell sharply in October as stormy weather and rising household costs combined to deter consumers, figures show.

Total UK footfall was down 4.7% year-on-year in October, sliding from a 2.9% drop in September, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic.

The high street was hit hardest of all shopper destinations, with visits down 5.2% year-on-year, dropping from a 3% fall in September.

Retail park footfall fell by 3.6%, while shopping centres suffered a 4.1% drop on last October.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Footfall fell sharply in every part of the UK in October.

“Low consumer confidence was likely a key factor in the decline in visitors, as households navigated rising inflation and high energy costs.

“Of all destinations, high streets were hit the hardest, as the stormy weather led many consumers to stay home or use locations with easy parking options.

“With a new Government high street strategy, the rejuvenation of our shopping destinations is a clear priority.

Halloween was said to have delivered ‘a brief seasonal uplift’ (Alamy/PA)

“To do this, we must make them safe for both shoppers and retail staff. While there are positive signs that the police are cracking down on organised crime and repeat offenders, it is vital that the Government grants the police the powers promised in the Crime and Policing Act.

“The commencement of this legislation would scrap the £200 threshold for low-level theft and give workers the protections they need, making our high streets safer for all.”

Andy Sumpter, head of consulting and analytics at Sensormatic, said: “Halloween delivered a brief seasonal uplift, but beyond that, retailers found little to celebrate.

“The month’s performance suggests that shoppers are continuing to prioritise essential spending, leaving discretionary retail expenditure under pressure despite the arrival of the Golden Quarter.

“Attention now turns squarely towards the Black Friday period, which increasingly looks like a critical opportunity to inject some momentum into a Golden Quarter that has so far struggled to live up to its name.”