August M
Sweltering summer days usually encourage people to get out and about across Britain.
Yet when temperatures climb into the mid-30s, everyday routines quickly change as people look for cooler ways to spend their afternoons, reports The Guardian.
Deserted high streets
Sweltering heat kept shoppers away from town centres across the United Kingdom last month. According to data from research firm Sensormatic and the British Retail Consortium, high street visits fell by 3.8 percent in July following a 6.2 percent drop in June.
Overall footfall across all shopping locations dropped by 2.1 percent compared to the same period last year. Shopping centres also saw fewer visitors, though retail parks managed to return to growth as consumers sought easier parking and air conditioned stores.
The drop was most noticeable in major cities. London suffered a 5.3 percent decline in shoppers as stifling conditions made underground and train travel unpleasant. In contrast, England overall experienced a 3 percent drop, while Scotland and Northern Ireland recorded small increases.
“The heatwave continued to bear down on retail footfall in July, with high streets worst affected,” said Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium.
Shift to online
“London was hit particularly hard as soaring temperatures made tube and train travel less attractive, with some commuters and shoppers opting to stay home,” Dickinson added.
Instead of browsing physical stores, many consumers stayed indoors and ordered items online. Retailer Next upgraded its profit forecasts for the third time this year, driven by strong digital sales for brands such as Gap, Reiss, and Joules, even as store visits faltered during the heatwave.
Certain sectors still managed to thrive despite the downturn. Supermarkets and electronics stores saw strong demand for cold food, drinks, desk fans, and air conditioning units. Meanwhile, furniture and garden plant sales suffered due to high living costs and dry weather.
“Climate change continues to deliver more and more extreme temperatures in the UK,” Dickinson stated. She noted that retailers are investing in mitigations such as air conditioning, adding, “Unfortunately, business rates often punish stores for such investments, showing the need for government to look again at this broken system.”
Sources. The Guardian
