Britain's biggest out-of-town shopping centres suffered a fall in customer numbers of almost 7 per cent last month showing that spiralling petrol prices have hit consumer spending.

SPSL, the footfall monitor, said visits to retail parks such as Meadowhall in Sheffield and Gateshead's Metro Centre were down by 6.8 per cent in May against the same month last year.

But footfall across the UK rose by an average 2.2 per cent.

A spokesman said: “It seems that high petrol prices are beginning to alter the way people are shopping. The high price may well be reducing catchment areas or frequency of visit to the regional shopping centres.”

The figures come just a day after Sir Stuart Rose, chief executive of Marks & Spencer, claimed that Britain's high streets were benefiting as customers chose to walk to the shops. He said: “If a tank of petrol costs £40 more than it did, are you going to drive to Bluewater or walk down the high street?”

The AA claims that two thirds of its members have cut back on car journeys to save money.

Unleaded petrol prices have soared more than 20 per cent in the past year while diesel is 34 per cent higher.

The average two-car family is spending an average of £44 more a month at the pump.

Stephen Robertson, director-general of the British Retail Consortium, said that there were clear signs of out-of-town stores suffering from lower customer numbers.

However, he added: “I was speaking to one retailer and they have seen a drop in footfall but they have yet to see any impact on sales. They say people seem to be buying more and filling up the car when they do decide to go out.”

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