NEWS


Sunshine and shopper caution keep retail footfall in the red during May


Record-breaking sunshine and warmer temperatures failed to deliver a significant boost to UK retail footfall in May, with shopper numbers remaining below last year’s levels despite a marked improvement on April’s performance. According to the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic Solutions, total UK footfall fell by 2.6 per cent year-on-year during the four weeks from 3-30 May, an improvement on April’s 10.7 per cent decline. High Streets proved the most resilient retail destination, with footfall down just 1.5 per cent, while


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Retail Parks recorded a 0.5 per cent decline and Shopping Centres saw visits fall by 2.4 per cent. Scotland was the only nation to record growth, with


footfall increasing by 0.4 per cent, while England (-3.0 per cent), Northern Ireland (-1.0 per cent) and Wales (-5.0 per cent) all experienced declines. Wales saw the sharpest drop in shopper numbers. Among major cities, Edinburgh led the way with a


2.5 per cent increase in footfall, followed by Belfast (0.1 per cent), while London remained flat year-on- year. Liverpool experienced the largest decline, with footfall down 9.4 per cent.


Hisense RGB MiniLED installed at Fifa World Cup 2026 International Broadcast Centre


With the World Cup now officially kicked off, the official International Broadcast Centre (IBC) for the FIFA World Cup 2026TM has officially opened in Dallas. To mark the opening of the centre, FIFA President Gianni Infantino completed an on-site trial of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, which uses Hisense RGB MiniLED displays due to their exceptional sharpness and colour quality. The IBC will serve as the tournament’s central media hub and utilise Hisense


RGB MiniLED TVs as its display hardware, which will underpin global match coverage and live broadcasting. The Hisense RGB MiniLED TVs in use at the broadcast centre were selected


for their use of the latest innovations in advanced display technology. The cutting- edge displays offer vivid colours and clarity as each LED uses three individual red, green, and blue diodes, working independently to create colour directly from the source. It is capable of capturing ultra-fine visual nuances such as potential fouls, offside line markings and goals, providing the technical backing needed for professional event reporting and live transmission. Caption (image, top): Kimberly Bizor Tolbert, Dallas, City Manager, (left), Gianni Infantino, President of FIFA, (middle) and Eric Johnson, Mayor of Dallas, (right)


ASKO partners with the Fifa World Cup 2026 as official refrigerator sponsor


ASKO is proud to be an official partner and refrigerator sponsor of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, “reflecting its global presence and commitment to excellence”, the company says. ASKO’s campaign celebrates the time, patience, and dedication it takes


to become a champion. It’s a journey that often begins with childhood dreams of the future. Just as great athletes are shaped over years of practice and persistence, ASKO appliances are developed with the same long- term perspective. Built for longevity, reliability, and enduring performance, they reflect a commitment to quality that stands the test of time, from early inspiration to lasting excellence. On the global stage, performance is everything. The same principles that


define elite sport are at the core of ASKO’s approach to appliance design. Every ASKO refrigerator is engineered to preserve freshness, optimise storage and deliver consistent results day after day. ASKO is rooted in Scandinavian design values of simplicity, durability,


and functionality. Today, it creates premium kitchen and laundry appliances that unite precision engineering with timeless design—built to endure and thoughtfully enhance everyday living. For further information, please visit uk.asko.com.


Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British


Retail Consortium, said: “While the warmer weather initially encouraged more people to the shops, the record-breaking temperatures at the end of the month resulted in a sharp decline in footfall, particularly at Shopping Centres and Retail Parks. Only High Streets bucked the trend, as those who were out and about took the opportunity to pop into their local stores.”


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