Retail takes hit as Budget fears keep shoppers away

LOW consumer confidence ahead of a potential tax-rising Budget kept many shoppers away from retail locations in September, according to latest figures.

- By Josie Clarke

TO BUY OR NOT?: Confidence is low

Tube strikes in London, heavy rainfall in the first half of the month and poor weather towards the end of it, exacerbated the fall, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said.

Total UK footfall was down by 1.8% in September on a year ago, significantly more than the 0.4% decline registered in August, BRC-Sensormatic data shows.

High-street footfall decreased by 2.5% year on year in September, while visits to retail parks and shopping centres were down 0.8% and 2% respectively.