New high street woe after sixth drop in footfall

FOOTFALL at the UK's shops has declined for the sixth consecutive month, marking another worrying sign for the retail sector.

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BUDGET FEARS: Helen Dickinson

Total activity fell by 0.7 per cent in October, led by drops in shopping centre and retail park footfall, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

BRC chief, Helen Dickinson, said that nervousness around the upcoming Budget, in which Rachel Reeves must plug a multi-billion-pound hole in the government's finances, was to blame.

"With consumer confidence remaining weak ahead of the possibility of a tax-raising Budget, many households have stayed away from shopping centres and retail parks," Dickinson said.