Shopper numbers dropped again in Wales over August - with the nation the worst performing area of the 海角视频.
The latest Welsh Retail Consortium figures show steep declines at high streets and shopping centres.
Retail chiefs are demanding Government action to tackle the issue.
The headline figures:
- Footfall decline steepened slightly in August, with -3.2% the worst of all the 海角视频’s regions.
- On the High Street, the decline of 3.5% was also the worst of all the 海角视频’s nations.
- The Retail Park Footfall decline of 1.5% is worse than in July and the worst of all 海角视频 nations.
The Shopping Centres decline was 4.1%. This is now 21 months of consecutive decline.
Sara Jones, Head of Policy & External Affairs at the Welsh Retail Consortium, said: “Welsh High Streets, Shopping Centres and Retail Parks saw the steepest decline in Footfall across all 海角视频 nations in August, adding to the woes of an already confidence hit industry.
"This fall in shopper numbers, combined with poor sales and subdued consumer demand, will continue to unnerve Welsh retailers at a time of huge political and economic uncertainty.
“As the Welsh Finance Minister looks to set out her tax and spending plans over the coming months the Welsh Retail Consortium, and our members, will put forward our own recommendations for how the Welsh Government can support the industry during this time of flux.
"Business rate reform, investment in skills and progression on the commitment to an industry enabling plan will be top of that shopping list. Given the importance of the industry to communities right across Wales we hope that Government will listen to our concerns and act through a budget which will help revitalise and rejuvenate the retail industry.”
Diane Wehrle, Springboard Marketing and Insights Director, said: “In the face of weak consumer confidence and declining sales a drop in footfall in Wales of -3.2% in August wasn't unexpected. We must remember that declining footfall is a long term trend with annual increases being the exception rather than the rule. Indeed, footfall has declined in every year since 2014.
“Not only did August’s footfall worsen from a -3% drop in July, but it was almost twice as great a drop as the -1.8% in August last year. However, the month’s result was bolstered slightly by the final week of the month, where the hottest August bank holiday on record improved footfall from -4.1% in the previous week to -2.7% in the last week of August."