No sign of high street crisis ending any time soon

There is no sign of the crisis gripping the high street easing any time soon – according to the latest British Retail Consortium figures.

Retailers saw the worst footfall figures in six years with shoppers continuing to stay away from the high street.

Big name casualties in recent months have included Debenhams and House of Fraser and experts have warned their will be further administrations this year.

The figures from British Retail Consortium revealed there was a decline of 3.5% in May, compared to the same period last year.

On a three-month basis, footfall decreased by 0.7 per cent. The six and 12 month averages are at -1.3 per cent and -1.4 per cent respectively.

The high street saw the biggest decline in footfall of 4.8 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Helen Dickinson, CEO, British Retail Consortium, said: “The UK experienced the worst footfall figures in six years, with declines in every region, and across high streets, retail parks and shopping centres.

“This reflects our recent sales data, which showed the largest drop in retail sale on record. The colder weather, as well as ongoing political and economic uncertainty, made many consumers think twice before heading out to the shops this May

“While consumers stayed away from the shops this May, retailers still had to pay the full cost of business rates, which are levied regardless of whether a store makes a penny at the till.

“These rising costs are making many retailers rethink investment decisions, as well as contributing to store closures up and down the country.

“The Government must act to reform this anachronistic tax system or it will be the consumers who suffer the shuttered windows at their local shopping locations.”