British retailers have seen promising signs that shoppers are returning to the high street lately, with footfall figures on the rise.

According to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) Sensormatic IQ data, UK footfall dropped by 10.5 per cent in June. However, this is two percentage points higher than the previous month, and an improvement from the quarterly decline of 11.8 per cent.

This figure is also better than the statistics from Germany, Italy and France for last month, when footfall declined by 19.4 per cent, 21.6 per cent and 23.5 per cent respectively.

Chief executive of the BRC Helen Dickinson noted that the rise in visits to shops is down to customers shopping around for the best deal.

“This was boosted by the Jubilee celebrations and summer heatwave, which more than compensated for the impact of the rail strikes on city centre footfall,” she stated.

While it is encouraging for retailers that footfall decline is improving, this has not necessarily translated into a rise in sales.

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, said June was a “rollercoaster ride for the high street”, thanks to the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee being offset by the rail strikes.

He echoed concerns regarding the cost-of-living crisis having a negative impact on sales this autumn. However, the expert hoped that even though consumers might shop less often, they will think about their purchases more carefully, which will drive up conversion rates.

Retail Connections recently advised shop owners to “act swiftly and decisively” to ensure they are prepared to deal with an upcoming “retail revolution”. It was suggested they should demonstrate values, adopt personalisation, and use social media to capitalise on the new ‘discovery commerce’ trend. 

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