High street crisis: Number of shoppers declines at fastest pace in five years

Brexit uncertainty has prompted renewed caution among British shoppers, says retail trade body

(Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The number of visitors to UK shops suffered a significant decline in February, as Brexit-related uncertainty drove a fifteenth successive monthly fall.

Footfall dropped 2 per cent in the month, the steepest February fall in five years, the latest figures from Springboard and the British Retail Consortium showed.

It means more bad news for the country’s beleaguered high streets and signals that the consumer spending that has been lifting the UK economy may be running out of steam.

Shopping centre visitor numbers declined even faster than the high street at 3.4 per cent while the number of people visiting retail parks slipped 0.8 per cent.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said the situation could further deteriorate unless the government is able to avoid a “calamitous” no-deal Brexit.

“Such a scenario would likely result in higher costs, higher prices and less choice for consumers – all of which would further harm struggling retailers,” Ms Dickinson said.

“The Government must act to protect both consumers and retailers by ensuring there is no chance of a no deal Brexit.”

Uncertainty has prompted renewed caution among British shoppers which has fed through into poor sales, particularly in bricks-and-mortar stores.

While real incomes have been rising over the last year, question marks over the UK’s economic future are causing people to hold back on non-essential spending, the BRC said.