Summer fails to boost the high street

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/summer-fails-to-boost-the-high-street-9674954.html

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The sunny weather last month failed to tempt shoppers to the high street according to new figures today.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC)/Springboard data shows footfall fell 1.7 per cent on the high street compared to the previous year in July, while shopper numbers declined 0.6 per cent across the retail sector.

Shopping centres also took a hit, with visitors down 0.5 per cent on July 2013. The data represents the second successive month high street footfall has fallen 1.7 per cent and is a blow to hopes the economic recovery would boost Britain’s ailing high streets.

However, campaigners attempting to reinvigorate the high street will have been heartened by a marked reduction in the number of vacant shops as an in- crease in temporary “pop-up” stores continue to charm customers.