Retail footfall in UK was 0.2% down on a year ago, marginally down on the 0.1% fall in April and below the three-month average of a 0.6% increase, according to the data released by British Retail Consortium (BRC).
Footfall on the high street was 0.9% down on the previous year for May, while Out-of-Town reported the only rise, 3.3% higher than a year ago. In shopping centers, footfall was down 1.5% on the previous year.
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Geographically, all regions and countries with the exception of Greater London (-1.6%) West Midlands (-2.3%), East Midlands (-3.0%), and Wales (-2.6%) reported positive footfall.
British Retail Consortium director general Helen Dickinson said: "This is the second successive month that footfall has eased back a touch, compared to the same period last year. However actual retail sales over the period have risen, which points to the continuing impact and popularity of online shopping particularly in non-food categories."
"Many retailers are increasingly adept at harnessing the internet and multi-channel innovations to get through to consumers who might not have time to travel to the shops," Dickinson added.
Springboard Retail Insights director Diane Wehrle said, "The challenge faced by our retail destinations is continuing, with both a drop in footfall for a second month in a row, and an acceleration in the decline to 0.2 per cent from 0.1 per cent in April."
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By GlobalData"However, the drop is a consequence of high streets and shopping centres losing out to retail parks which are benefiting from the inevitable lure of home products as house prices continue to rise."
