Shoppers abandoned the high street in even greater numbers last month as the ongoing uncertainty stemming from the war in the Middle East pushed consumer confidence to new lows, a new report has revealed.
Total UK footfall decreased by 10.7% in April, compared to a 2.4% decline in the previous month, the latest figures from the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic showed. It was the weakest performance recorded for five years.
The figures for the four weeks to 2 May were worsened by an earlier Easter, which factored into March’s figures this year rather than April’s in 2025, distorting the year-on-year comparisons.
But BRC CEO Helen Dickinson said, even after correcting for Easter, April remained a weak month for footfall.
Taking March and April together, compared with the same two months in 2025 and cancelling out any Easter impact, total footfall tumbled by 3.9%.
Traffic decreased by 3.3% on the high street in the two-month period, and by 3% on retail parks and 3.5% in shopping centres.
“The ongoing conflict in the Middle East pushed consumer confidence to new lows, prompting consumers to make fewer trips to the shops,” Dickinson added.
“While footfall declined in every city, London proved reasonably resilient during the Tube strikes, as people adapted, finding alternative routes into the capital.
“Retailers will be hoping a sunnier outlook and major sporting events, like the World Cup, help reverse this trend in the months ahead.”
She warned the prospect of higher inflation on the back of the conflict in Iran could limit consumer appetite for shopping.
“While government can’t change the situation in the Middle East, it can help limit inflationary risks by addressing some domestic cost pressures on business,” Dickinson said. “This includes reducing non-commodity charges, levies and taxes, which account for up to 65% of a typical business energy bill.”
Sensormatic retail consultant Andy Sumpter said April delivered a sobering reminder of how fragile the recovery in retail footfall remained.
“With consumer confidence falling, and ongoing cost of living pressures, shoppers are becoming more selective – making fewer trips, but with clearer intent when they do.
“In a month where even a ‘good’ result would likely have remained negative, it’s difficult not to be disappointed. That said, opportunity remains. Those who are out and about are often there to spend, making every shopper more valuable. After the country headed to the polls, retailers would do well to remember that shoppers will continue to vote with their feet – and winning their custom will depend on delivering value, relevance and good reasons to return.”
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