Slump in footfall raises fears for Christmas trading

Footfall on the high street slumped last month by its biggest amount since December's snowfall, with a sharp north-south divide developing, reinforcing fears for the Christmas trading period. The British Retail Consortium said total footfall on the UK's high streets, out-of-town retail parks and shopping centres fell by 2.5 per cent between1 August and the end of October. Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC, said: "Footfall is down on a year ago in all types of retail locations." However, high street shops suffered the biggest fall – 4.7 per cent – in customers in October, compared with a more modest decline of 1.6 per cent in out-of-town retail parks and a 2.2 per cent drop in shopping centres.