And offset dips during matches
World Cup high spirits could be good news for retailers this summer, retail data company FootFall has forecast.

The football feel-good factor is expected to lead to a significant increase in shopper numbers in the run-up to matches, which will more than offset the lull during games.

Figures from Euro 2004 showed that, although footfall was often slightly down on match days, it was significantly higher in the days leading up to matches.

When England played France on Sunday June 13 2004, shopper numbers fell 1.9 per cent, compared with the week before. However, footfall on the day before was up 10.8 per cent on the previous Saturday.

FootFall spokeswoman Natasha Burton said: 'After studying the effects on retail of previous high-profile sporting events, we see the World Cup as a real opportunity for the retail sector to change its fortunes. Retailers can capitalise on the goodwill and carnival atmosphere by creating a buzz in-store.'