UK retail spending fell for July, according to Visa, as the high street continues to struggle.
Visa said despite optimism that the heatwave would spur on consumers, spending was down 0.9 percent in July compared with the same month a year previously.
The steepest fall was in “face to face” spending in retail outlets, which dropped by 1.2 percent, with footfall continuing to dip.
Whilst consumer trends have shown a marked switch to online avenues, even online spending fell by 0.5 percent.
The warmer weather helped boost food, drink and restaurant spending, however, this did not extend to transport and household goods, which ultimately fell.
Mark Antipof, the chief commercial officer at Visa, commented: “Retailers had a difficult time in early 2018, and while there was some respite in May and June, July’s fall in spending is concerning, particularly as we look ahead when the impact of the interest rate rise and back-to-school costs will likely put further pressure on Britons’ wallets.”
The UK high street is increasingly facing pressure as high inflation levels continue to outpace wage growth.
As a result, shoppers are increasingly tightening their purse strings, shunning some of the nation’s most-loved retailers.
Most recently, department store chain House of Fraser has felt the pinch, narrowly avoiding administration.
After initially failing to find a buyer last week, House of Fraser collapse seemed imminent.
However, Sport Direct’s Mike Ashley has since struck a £90 million deal to rescue the troubled retailer.
