High street still struggling to attract shoppers amid money worries

Footfall in the three months to the end of January was up 1.8 per cent compared to a year ago, better than the 2.3 per cent fall in the previous three months, boosted by a strong Christmas. But numbers dipped again at the start of 2012, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

The research is in contrast to data released by the Office for National Statistics last week, which showed that retail sales volumes rose 0.9 per cent in January as stores lured in shoppers with hefty discounts.

The North and North Yorkshire saw footfall grow by 5.9 per cent in the three months to January – the fourth strongest region behind Wales, Northern Ireland and the South East.

However, the region has the second highest town centre vacancy rates in the UK, behind Northern Ireland, with 12.9 per cent of shops standing empty – above the 11.1 per cent national figure.

Stephen Robertson, director general of the BRC, said: “December looks deceptively good because it’s being compared with the heavy snowfall which affected the end of 2010 and kept many people at home then. At the start of 2012 footfall numbers dipped again, showing underlying caution hasn’t changed. Worries about personal finances and job security are putting people off shopping.”