Shopping streets across Northern Ireland suffered the worst decline, with customer numbers dropping by 6.9 per cent in a five-week period to the end of June, which was the poorest performance across the UK. Although shopping-centre footfall also fell, it was at a much slower pace of just 0.2 per cent according to the latest Northern Ireland Retail Consortium (NIRC) and Springboard footfall and vacancies report. Mr Connolly said although retailers are working hard to encourage shoppers to spend their time and money on high streets and retail centres, the North could face “retail Armageddon,” unless the sector urgently gets support. “Retail in Northern Ireland is likely to contract, as it has begun to do across the UK. There is seismic change happening in our high streets and in the retail industry led by policy costs and consumer behaviour,” he added.

Source: The Irish Times July 14, 2019 22:52 UTC