Retailers may be justified in blaming the World Cup for falling shopper numbers, according to the latest figures fr...
Retailers may be justified in blaming the World Cup for falling shopper numbers, according to the latest figures from research group SPSL. Shopper numbers fell by 7.2 per cent in June compared with last year. Prior to the tournament, numbers were up by 2.1 per cent in May.

The biggest dips in footfall levels came in the weeks when England games fell on Saturdays. Shopper numbers were down by 8.7 per cent during the week of England's first match of the tournament against Paraguay and then dropped 10.1 per cent during last week, when England lost out to Portugal in the quarter-final.

Some retailers, especially CD and DVD specialists, are feeling the negative effects of the tournament twice over, with many music and film companies delaying the release of new products until after the World Cup is over.