The traditional post holiday lull has once again produced a slump in sales on the high street, new figures suggest.
Data, released by Footfall the Experian company which track shopper numbers, shows that the number of shop visits fell just after the Bank Holiday weekend.
The prolonged hot weather continues to stifle demand for warmer clothes, so shoppers have been slow in buying for the colder season.
Living costs have also risen, largely due to higher domestic fuel and mortgage bills, reducing exposable incomes, the survey’s authors say.
Natasha Burton, spokesperson for FootFall, said: “In line with previous years, footfall levels fell last week as the new school term began and consumers focused on paying off summer credit card bills, counting the cost of summer holidays and the expense of the new school term.
“We would expect shoppers to slowly return to the High Street over the coming weeks, in the build up to the half-term holidays and Halloween, with many retailers having already taken delivery of themed merchandise in anticipation of a surge in demand.
“Generally, the outlook for retailers remains positive with transport fuel costs coming down and the continued buoyancy of the housing market consolidating consumer confidence levels.
“The 3% fall in shopper numbers year-on-year keeps 2006 levels in line with 2004, a trend which has been sustained since early June.”
© Crimson Business Ltd 2006
