The decline in UK retail footfall worsened last month, in a "subdued" end to the third-quarter, figures showed, with the focus now turning to the vital Christmas period.
According to the latest British Retail Consortium-Sensormatic IQ tracker, UK retail footfall fell 2.9% year on year in September, worsening from a 1.6% fall in August.
"During the warmer-than-expected weather, footfall slowed in September, with fewer shoppers across all shopping locations," BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said.
In the high street alone, footfall decreased by 1.7% annually in September, after a 0.9% fall in August. Retail parks suffered a 2.4% footfall decline. Footfall in retail parks had been flat on-year in August. Shopping centre footfall fell 4.0% yearly last month, worsening from a 3.8% decline previously.