‘Record-breaking temperatures’ hit UK footfall in May

Covering the four weeks from 3-30 May, total UK footfall decreased by 2.6% year-on-year, up from -10.7% in April, according to the latest data from BRC-Sensormatic, with record temperatures in the last week of May cited as impacting activity.

High Street footfall decreased by 1.5% year-on-year in May, up from -9.2% in April, while footfall in shopping centres dropped 2.4%, up from -10.1% in April. Retail parks saw the smallest drop in footfall in May, down by 0.5%, up from -9% in April.

Scotland was the only nation to experience a footfall rise in May of 0.4% year-on-year, while footfall fell by 1% in Northern Ireland, by 3% in England, and by 5% in Wales.

Helen Dickinson, CEO of the British Retail Consortium, said: “While total UK footfall remained down on last year, it was a significant improvement on April’s double-digit drop.

“While the warmer weather initially encouraged more people to the shops, the record-breaking temperatures at the end of the month resulted in a sharp decline in footfall, particularly at shopping centres.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, added: “May showed a modest improvement on April’s bleak performance, but retail footfall remains under pressure. Total UK retail visits fell 2.6% year-on-year, reflecting the lingering impact of an early Easter and a difficult April.

“While brighter weather earlier in the month may have encouraged some shoppers back out, the late May heatwave appears to have done the opposite in the final week.”

It’s not only the impact of the unseasonably warm temperatures that have been keeping shoppers away, as Dickinson said: “Households remain anxious about the long-term impact of the Iran conflict and inflation and expect prices to rise over the year.

“By tackling the inflationary pressures on the horizon, the government can help rebuild consumer confidence, ultimately supporting footfall. The first priority must be to address non-commodity charges, which are pushing up energy costs to an unsustainable level. The window for the government to act is narrowing, and any delay will only harm retailers and their customers.”

Sumpter added: “Consumer confidence may be edging up slightly, but it remains fragile, with geopolitical uncertainty continuing to weigh on discretionary spend. Shoppers also appear to be changing how they engage with physical retail.

“While visits to retailers within shopping centres fell 3.4%, overall visits to shopping centres rose 1.4% - one of the few positives this month - suggesting consumers are still visiting destinations but making fewer, more considered purchases.

“While May does little to shift the broader narrative of cautious consumers and pressured footfall, it does hint at evolving behaviour rather than outright retreat.

“For retailers, the challenge and the opportunity lie in converting these more deliberate visits into meaningful spend, by delivering the right mix of value, relevance, and experience as we head into the summer months.”