Diane Wehrle CEO at Rendle Intelligence and Insights joins Simon for their monthly chat about footfall trends. The UK's summer heatwave has driven an 8.5% decline in high street retail sales compared to last year. This retail slump reflects a combination of weather impacts, calendar effects, and persistent economic headwinds affecting consumer spending patterns.
• UK high street footfall down 3% during June's heatwave periods
• Food spending up 4.1% while non-food spending increased only 2.2%
• Average Transaction Value remained relatively stable (down just 1.1%)
• Online spending holds steady at 26% of total retail sales since January
• Rising inflation (now 3.6%) and increasing unemployment creating consumer caution
• Post-COVID consumer priorities shifting toward holidays over retail purchases
• UK domestic tourism seeing growth during hot weather, but spending benefits bars and restaurants more than retail
#theproductivityexperts
Register for the 2026 Productivity Forum
Find us in the Top 50 Productivity Podcasts
Connect to Simon on LinkedIn
Follow ReThink on LinkedIn
