Experts have warned British retailers face tough times ahead as nervous customers cut their spending.

East Anglian Daily Times: Superdrug, the health and beauty store, is closing its store in Carr Street, Ipswich. Picture: DAVID VINCENTSuperdrug, the health and beauty store, is closing its store in Carr Street, Ipswich. Picture: DAVID VINCENT (Image: Archant)

Footfall to British shopping locations was down 1.3% last month, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Springboard.

The high street saw a decline of 1.9%, compared with a 2% drop in the same month last year.

MORE: First look inside incredible new Felixstowe wedding venueMeanwhile, shopping centres experienced the most severe dip in visitors, with a decline of 2.2%.

East Anglian Daily Times: Sports Direct store in Carr Street, Ipswich. Picture: DAVID VINCENTSports Direct store in Carr Street, Ipswich. Picture: DAVID VINCENT (Image: Archant)

Only retail parks managed to attract more consumers, with footfall rising by 1%.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said the downward trajectory was due to "increasingly cautious consumers" who are "holding back on discretionary spending".

"There is little sign that the stresses on retail will abate any time soon. Stuck between weak demand thanks to Brexit uncertainty, and rising costs resulting from business rates and other public policy costs, many retailers are clearly struggling," she said.

East Anglian Daily Times: Argos in Carr Street, Ipswich, is closing down. Photo: Archant.Argos in Carr Street, Ipswich, is closing down. Photo: Archant. (Image: Archant)

"The Government should take the opportunity to reduce the heavy cost burden holding back retail investment."

However, August had the strongest footfall of the summer months, partly due to the hot weather over the Bank Holiday.

It has been a tough years for retailers in Ipswich town centre, with many national chains closing branches in the town due to the harsh economic climate.

East Anglian Daily Times: Argos in Carr Street, Ipswich, is closing down. Photo: Archant.Argos in Carr Street, Ipswich, is closing down. Photo: Archant. (Image: Archant)

Argos in Carr Street will soon be shutting its doors, while Superdrug in the same street, Ohh Deer in Thoroughfare and Cotswold Outdoors in Tavern Street have already shut down.

MORE: Ipswich bakery sells more than 2,000 pretzels in first weekDiane Wehrle, Springboard's marketing and insights director, said although consumer confidence is currently weak, the overall decline has been evident for over a decade.

"We must remember that declining footfall is a long term trend with annual increases being the exception rather than the rule," she said.

"Indeed, footfall has declined in every year since Springboard started publishing its national data in January 2009."