June’s heat caused a meltdown on Britain’s high streets. Shopper numbers fell 1.8 per cent year-on-year as it was ‘too hot to shop’, said the British Retail Consortium (BRC).
The High Street was especially hard hit, with shopper numbers down 3 per cent, while retail parks and shopping centres fell 1.1 per cent and 1.6 per cent respectively.
Retailers are struggling to lure shoppers due to weak consumer confidence, while the cost of doing business has rocketed, due to a hike in employer National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage.
It comes after Greggs last week warned the heat had hit Brits’ appetite for sausage rolls – sending its shares tumbling.
A yellow heat health alert has been extended across England – the third heatwave of the summer, and temperatures hit 34C in London last month.
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic, which helped compile the BRC data, said: ‘June delivered heatwaves, storms and what could be the hottest June on record, but even the sunshine wasn’t enough to spark a retail revival.’
Heatwave: Shopper numbers on the High Street plunged 3% compared to last June with retail parks and shopping centres also seeing depleted crowds
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