July’s heatwaves kept UK shoppers away from high street
Summary
In July, high street shopping in the UK dropped because of hot weather, with more people choosing to shop online. Visits to shopping centres also fell, except at retail parks, while some regions like Scotland saw an increase in shoppers.Key Facts
- Trips to UK high streets fell by 3.8% in July compared to last year, after a 6.2% drop in June.
- Overall visits to shopping places decreased by 2.1% year on year in July.
- London saw a bigger decline in shoppers (5.3%) than the rest of England (3%).
- Scotland and Northern Ireland saw increases of 2.7% and 2.5% in shoppers, respectively, while footfall in Wales stayed flat.
- Retailers are investing in air conditioning and eco-friendly equipment to handle rising temperatures caused by climate change.
- Some retailers, like Next, saw growth from online sales and demand in other countries, even as in-store shopping slowed.
- Fashion, supermarkets, and technology stores did well during the heat, while furniture and garden plant sales dropped.
- Heat and dry weather reduced plant sales and fewer people are buying furniture due to the slow housing market and higher living costs.
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