Scottish retail footfall decreased by 15.8% in June, although it was 0.6% better than May.
However, the latest Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and Sensormatic IQ data showed that last month's performance was worse than the UK average decline of 10.5%.
Since the pandemic started, much of retail has bounced between being open and closed, impacting footfall significantly. To make meaningful comparisons to changes in footfall, all the SRC figures are compared to 2019 levels.
Shopping centre footfall declined by 19.9% in June, year-on-three-years, in Scotland, compared to a decline of 19.7% in May.
Meanwhile, footfall in Glasgow decreased by 12.2% in June, 0.6% worse than during May.
Edinburgh and Glasgow both outperformed the national average, however.
Footfall in Glasgow was down 12.6% compared to 2019, whilst Edinburgh was down by 9.6% on the same comparison.
Ewan MacDonald-Russell, head of policy and external affairs at the SRC, said: “Scotland’s retail footfall continues to languish behind the rest of the UK with a second successive month as the weakest performer.
“While there was a modest improvement this month, the brutal reality is high street retailers are consistently seeing 15% fewer customers than before Covid struck Scotland.
“With inflation rising to 9% last month the pressure on discretionary spending is only likely to grow.”
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic Solutions, commented: “June delivered a rollercoaster ride for the High Street – the highs of the ‘Jubilee jump’ in footfall where retailers benefitted from the beginning of the month was, in part, derailed by the rail strikes as some shoppers stayed at home to avoid travel disruption.
“This mixed bag of footfall performance will do little to allay retailers’ concerns as the cost-of-living and inflationary pressures continue to weigh heavy in the public consciousness.
“Retailers will be hoping that even if consumers shop less frequently, they will be more considered in their purchases to drive up conversion when they do come into store.”
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