Cooler weather fails to warm fashion sales

Total footfall across UK high streets, shopping centres and retail parks fell 1.8 percent on average last week, as the onset of cooler weather failed

to prompt shoppers to buy autumn/winter collections.

The high street was the biggest casualty, recording a fall of 3.2 percent year-on-year, while retail parks were the only format that saw a rise in footfall, up 1.8 percent.

The East Midlands and the North and Yorkshire were the only two regions to record year-on-year growth. The North and Yorkshire saw footfall increase by 1.2 percent overall, comprising a rise of 2.6 percent on the high street and a fall of 0.6 percent in shopping centres, while footfall to retail parks in the region remained flat.

Springboard’s marketing and insights director Diane Wehrle told Drapers: “Footfall dropped again this week as the onset of cooler weather failed to inspire shoppers to invest in autumn stock."