Shopping centres lose visitors

OUT-of-town shopping centres have seen visitor numbers fall at a far sharper rate than town centres, according to new research.

New footfall data from economic research company Experian has found a 5.8 per cent fall in the number of people visiting out-of-town shopping centres, compared to a 1.5 per cent decline in those visiting town centres.

High petrol prices are thought to have led to the general slowdown hitting out-of-town centres hardest.

Jonathan de Mello, director of retail consultancy at Experian, said: "The reduction is having a significant impact on retail sales because these visits have a much better conversion-to-sales ratio and generate much higher value purchases for retailers.

"People generally drive to out-of-town destinations with a specific large purchase in mind and there is far less browsing."