England soccer game hits UK retail sales

LONDON - The number of people who went shopping on the day of England's final World Cup match was down 12.5 per cent from the previous week and 16.1 per cent from a year ago, as fans stayed glued to television sets, data showed.

"The comparative Saturday in 2005 was the day of the Live8 event, which also brought shopper numbers down," market research firm FootFall said in a statement.

"Although the Saturday number was down 12.5 per cent week-on-week, midweek numbers were buoyant, giving retailers a boost as they built on the excitement surrounding England's journey."

Retailers hope for higher sales in the coming weeks as they start summer sales and after England were knocked out by Portugal on Saturday in the World Cup quarterfinals.

"It will be interesting to see how the mood of the nation affects shopping habits in the days ahead, whether it will be 'business as usual' or if retailers can ensure they retain consumers' interest beyond the World Cup and maintain shopper numbers throughout the remainder of the year," the research firm said.

- REUTERS