Store traffic dipped 1.3% in February, with consumers still exhausted by December's 'buying frenzy', despite shop price inflation rising just 1.7%.
Synovate's UK footfall figures saw a decline for the fourth month in a row, with store traffic dropping 1.3% in February against the same month in 2009. Figures also revealed a month-on-month fall of 3.1% compared with January's figures.

Synovate director of retail intelligence Tim Denison said: "After such a slow start to the year in January, retailers were hoping for better things last month, but our figures show little evidence of any respite. The fatigue that hit shoppers after their short-lived buying frenzy at the end of December persisted throughout February. The year-on-year comparison was better than January's - which was down by 5% on the same month in 2009 - but the first fortnight of February 2009 was disrupted by heavy snowfall, somewhat flattering the comparison."

However, the BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index revealed that overall shop price inflation was 1.7% in February, compared with 2.3% the previous month. Food inflation is now at its lowest for three years at 1.3%, while non-food remained stable at 1.9% - no change from the figure recorded last month.

BRC director general Stephen Robertson explained; "This is great new for customers. Food inflation is at its lowest for at least three years - 12 months ago it was seven times higher... The VAT increase is putting pressure on overall shop price inflation but, even so, electricals home technology and clothing are actually cheaper than they were this time last year. Fierce retail competition is protecting customers and keeping inflation down."

However, Synovate is curious to determine the underlying cause of the weak footfall and questions whether it is the ongoing cold and inclement weather keeping shoppers at home or if it is derived from an "inherent deep-seated weakness in demand".

Dr Denison believes "a sustained period of spring sunshine" will offer up vital clues, while an early Easter should help boost March's footfall figures.