Retail footfall was hit by record levels of sunshine in May, report BRC-Sensormatic in their latest footfall monitor.
According to BRC-Sensormatic data, total UK footfall decreased by 2.6% YoY in May, up from -10.7% in April.
High street footfall decreased by 1.5%, retail park footfall by 0.5%, and shopping centre by 2.4%.
Footfall rose by 0.4% YoY in Scotland, while all other nations experienced declines. Footfall fell by 1.0% in Northern Ireland, 3.0% in England, and 5.0% in Wales.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium (BRC), says: “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 and retail parks. Only high streets bucked the trend, as those who were out and about took the opportunity to pop into their local stores."
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, comments: “May showed a modest improvement on April’s bleak performance, but retail footfall remains under pressure. Total UK retail visits fell -2.6% YoY, reflecting the lingering impact of an early Easter following 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.
“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.”
