Compiled by Ipsos Retail Performance, the Index continues to reflect a sorry state of affairs for high street shopping in the UK. The results for the economy during Q1 have been revised downwards and consumer confidence is now running at its lowest ebb since December.
The run rate of the RTI for the year to date is 6.2% down on 2011, making the slowdown two thirds more than last year as a whole.
Dr Tim Denison, head of retail intelligence at Ipsos Retail Performance, said: “In May last year, the UK was enjoying a mini-bounce in confidence on the back of the royal wedding, so the comparative is a strong one this month. However, the health of retailing is continuing on its downward trajectory and even the weather has continued to conspire against retailers.”
Over the Spring Bank Holiday week, however, the footfall deficit against last year was less severe, down by only 2.9% on the equivalent bank holiday week of 2011.
With the weather offering signs of improvement, and many people adding extra days of holiday to the two bank holidays next week, footfall in high street stores is expected to rise, albeit temporarily. If the impact of last year’s royal wedding is anything to judge the potential influence of The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, high street retailers can hope for a three-week run where shopper numbers may well match last year’s across the UK as a whole, and some in parts of the country may exceed them.
Source: Ipsos
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