Shoppers stayed off the high street in their droves in February as constant rain added to the challenges facing the UK retail industry, according to new data out this morning.
Footfall across the UK slumped by 4.7% year on year last month, compared with a 0.6% decline in January, the monthly BRC-Sensormatic monitor revealed.
High streets experienced 5.4% less traffic in February, down from –1.9% in the previous month, while shopping centres decreased 5.5% and retail parks declined 3.1%.
Footfall decreased year on year across all nations: down 2.3% in Northern Ireland, 3% in Scotland, 5% in England and 5.8% in Wales.
“One of the wettest Februarys on record saw shoppers shy away from in-store visits last month,” said British Retail Consortium CEO Helen Dickinson.
“Footfall was down across all locations, with high streets and shopping centres hit hardest – a blow felt most keenly by clothing and footwear retailers.”
Sensormatic retail consultant Andy Sumpter said economic pressures added an extra layer of strain for retailers and shoppers.
“Continued food price inflation and rising unemployment continued to weigh on household budgets, making both discretionary trips and discretionary spending easier to delay,” he said. “For retailers, the combination of a soggy month and tightened consumer confidence made February a difficult backdrop to trade against.”
Dickinson called on the government to help turn footfall around by incentivising local investment.
“Its recently announced plan for a new high street strategy must look at outdated taxes such as business rates, which for too long have held back our local communities.
“The decisions taken in the 2025 budget and the need for subsequent new support for pubs shines the light on a system that has long passed its sell by date. The strategy needs to recognise that raising so much tax revenue through property taxes is no longer sustainable. The industry remains ready to work with government on a solution that brings a sunnier outlook for both businesses and consumers.”
No comments yet