Out of town shopping centres are suffering a greater decline in shopper numbers than high streets as the consumer slowdown takes effect.

Figures from research company Footfall show a 5.8 per cent drop in visitor numbers at out-of-town shopping malls in June, while shopper numbers in town centres fell by only 1.5 per cent.

"The reduction in visits to out-of-town centres is having a significant impact on retail sales because these visits have a much better conversion to sales ratio and generate much higher value purchases for retailers," says Experian director of retail consultancy Jonathan de Mello. "People generally drive to out-of-town destinations with a specific large purchase in mind and there is far less browsing than is the case in town centres."