According to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic IQ Footfall Monitor for July, total UK footfall decreased by 28.0% in July (Yo2Y), with a 0.4 percentage point decrease from June. This is below the 3-month average decline of 27.7%.

Footfall on High Streets declined by 34.6% in July (Yo2Y), 1.2 percentage points below last month’s rate and below the 3-month average decline of 34.1%.

Retail Parks saw footfall decrease by 15.0% (Yo2Y), 6.9 percentage points below last month’s rate and below the 3-month average decline of 14.1%.

Shopping Centre footfall declined by 38.4% (Yo2Y), 2.6 percentage points below last month’s rate but above the 3-month average decline of 39.1%.

For the third consecutive month, Northern Ireland saw the shallowest footfall decline of all regions at -19.9%, followed by Wales at -25.8% and Scotland at -27.1%. England saw the deepest decline at -28.7%.

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) head of policy and external affairs, said: “There is little sign Scottish shoppers are returning to retail destinations in the same numbers they did before the pandemic. Whilst July saw a small improvement in shopper visits to retail destinations on the previous month, footfall continues to be more than a quarter down on the equivalent month in 2019. As we have seen in recent months, out of town destinations continue to do best, whilst high streets, and especially shopping centres struggle to attract shoppers.

“With most Covid restrictions ending from the 9th of August, retailers will hope there is a late summer surge to Scotland’s shops. If that doesn’t transpire, Scottish Ministers should urgently consider what interventions they could make to encourage consumers back to the high street. This could be through temporary free parking, an advertising campaign to encourage people back to city centres, or a high street voucher scheme like Northern Ireland is introducing. Despite the slight improvement this month, it’s clear retail is some way from recovering from the effects of Covid.”

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, commented: “With July’s wet weather dampening shoppers’ spirits, High Street footfall stayed subdued as consumers remained cautious. Even the hotly debated ‘Freedom Day’ failed to significantly shift the dial on shopper counts, perhaps losing some of its ‘shine’ to the EURO’s which brought forward shopping and socialising trips to earlier in the month.

“And in a tale of two halves, Freedom Day may have split consumer confidence, with those revelling in newfound freedoms increasing the frequency of their shopping trips, while those concerned about the relaxation of restrictions on social distancing and mask-wearing becoming more inclined to stay away.

“However, while footfall performance was flat compared to June, the trajectory in the second half of July gave cause for more cautious optimism; weekend shopper counts improved by 7 percentage points week-on-week following Freedom Day. Retailers will now be hoping caution will give way to growing consumer confidence so that they can capitalise on summer trading.”