UK retail footfall drops 4.7 per cent in rain-hit February: BRC

High street locations saw footfall fall 5.4 per cent year-on-year in February, compared with a 1.9 per cent drop in January. Retail parks recorded a 3.1 per cent decline after posting 1.1 per cent growth in the previous month, while shopping centres registered a 5.5 per cent decrease, worsening from a 0.8 per cent fall in January.

According to the BRC-Sensormatic data, all UK nations experienced declines. Footfall dropped 2.3 per cent in Northern Ireland, 3.0 per cent in Scotland, 5.0 per cent in England and 5.8 per cent in Wales, the steepest fall among the regions.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium said, “One of the wettest Februarys on record saw shoppers shy away from in store visits last month. Footfall was down across all locations, with high streets and shopping centres hit hardest – a blow felt most keenly by clothing and footwear retailers. Every UK region saw fewer shoppers, but some northern cities, more used to wet weather, proved more resilient. London was among the weaker performers, recording its steepest drop in footfall since April 2024.”

She added that while weather conditions cannot be controlled, government policy could help revive retail traffic by encouraging local investment and reforming outdated business rates.

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, noted that February reversed the modest improvement seen in January. “Exceptionally heavy rainfall, well above the seasonal average kept shoppers away from high streets and retail destinations, driving a natural shift towards online shopping as consumers chose convenience and shelter from the downpours,” he said in a press release.

Sumpter also pointed to broader economic pressures, including food price inflation and rising unemployment, which have tightened household budgets and reduced discretionary trips and spending.

However, retailers remain hopeful that upcoming seasonal events such as Mother’s Day and improving spring weather could boost shopper sentiment and encourage consumers to return to physical stores, according to the BRC-Sensormatic report.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (JP)