FOOTFALL across high streets, retail parks and shopping centres dropped year-on-year over each of the past three weeks as shoppers delayed their Christmas spending, according to figures published yesterday by the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
The number of shoppers fell by 3.7 per cent in the week to 26 November, having fallen by 4.4 per cent and 1 per cent in the previous two weeks.
Focusing on the most recent week’s figures, BRC director-general Stephen Robertson said: “Footfall was down compared with the same week in 2011, indicating some are holding back on festive shopping more than they did last year. It’s important to note the same week last year coincided with a public sector strike and so comparisons are against unusually-high levels.”
The BRC added the wet weather may have dented last week’s footfall figures.