Read our Privacy noticeBritain's retail sector faced continued challenges in July as persistent heatwave conditions deterred shoppers, with high streets particularly affected, new figures suggest. Total UK footfall declined by 2.1% year-on-year, an improvement from June’s 3.4% drop, according to British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic data. Shopping centres also saw a 1.4% year-on-year decrease, an improvement on the 2.5% drop recorded the previous month. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “The heatwave continued to bear down on retail footfall in July, with high streets worst affected. “While the UK has yet another new prime minister, retail is yet to experience any meaningful ‘Burnham bounce’.