Overview
- Total UK retail footfall fell 3.4% year‑on‑year in June, dragging year‑to‑date visits down about 3.3% at the midyear point.
- High street visits recorded the steepest drop, down 6.2% in June compared with the same month last year.
- Air‑conditioned shopping centres proved more resilient with footfall down 2.5% and retail parks down just 0.3% as shoppers sought cooler or more convenient venues.
- Footfall varied across the UK: Scotland was the only nation with growth at 1.7% while England, Wales and Northern Ireland declined, and West Midlands retail visits fell 3.8% locally in June.
- BRC and Sensormatic say the heatwave reduced trips but that deeper factors — rising costs, weak consumer confidence and travel disruption — are driving more selective shopping and have led retailers to call for cuts to business rates and help with energy costs.