Footfall in August fell 0.9% year-on-year to its lowest rate since March 2013, latest figures reveal.

According to the BRC/ Springboard footfall monitor, high street footfall was down 0.6% and out-of-town footfall was flat, although it compares with a strong performance in August 2012 during the Olympics.

The North and Yorkshire was the only region to report positive growth, up 0.1%.

British Retail Consortium (BRC) director general Helen Dickinson said: “A slight fall in shopper numbers is disappointing after several months of positive results, but there are a few factors at play.

“We’re comparing against August 2012, when an Olympic influx in some areas pushed up the UK average, and it’s also possible that more of us took holidays after electing to stay put for last year’s summer of sport.”

She added that the small dip in one month shouldn’t take the shine off the tentative signs of improving consumer confidence.

“All in all these figures need to be taken in tandem with the recent rosier economic news, including a good one of sales growth and many of us starting to feel more positive about the economy,” she said.

Over the last quarter footfall has remained stable compared with the previous three months, while high street footfall rose 1.1%.