UK retail footfall fell in May despite unusually strong sunshine, as a late-month heatwave discouraged trips to stores and altered consumer behaviour, according to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC) data.
Figures from the BRC-Sensormatic Footfall Monitor show total UK retail footfall dropped by 2.6% year on year across the four weeks to 30 May. The decline marks an improvement on April’s 10.7% fall, but still points to subdued activity on the high street, in shopping centres and retail parks.
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Weather shapes spending habits
The month began with relatively favourable conditions, which supported some recovery in shopper activity. However, the pattern shifted in the final week as temperatures rose sharply.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the British Retail Consortium, said the early part of May encouraged more people to visit stores, but this trend reversed as conditions became extreme.
She said the warmer weather “initially encouraged more people to the shops”, but the record-breaking temperatures at the end of the month led to “a sharp decline in footfall”.
High streets proved more resilient than other retail locations, with footfall falling by 1.5%. Retail parks recorded a 0.5% decline, while shopping centres saw a 2.4% drop. According to Dickinson, people already out and about “took the opportunity to pop into their local stores”.
Regional differences across the UK
The data also highlights uneven performance across the UK. Scotland was the only nation to record growth, with footfall rising by 0.4% year on year. England saw a 3.0% decline, Northern Ireland fell by 1.0%, and Wales recorded the steepest drop at 5.0%.
Analysts suggest the variation reflects both local conditions and broader consumer caution, with weather acting as a short-term influence on already fragile shopping patterns.
Consumer caution persists despite improvement
Although May showed an improvement compared with April’s sharp decline, overall retail activity remained under pressure.
Industry consultant Andy Sumpter of Sensormatic described the month as “a modest improvement on April’s bleak performance”, but said retail footfall “remains under pressure”. He pointed to changing consumer behaviour, where shoppers are more selective in how and when they spend.
He added that improving weather earlier in the month encouraged visits, but the late heatwave “appears to have done the opposite in the final week”.
The BRC also highlighted ongoing concerns around inflation and economic uncertainty, with households still cautious about future price rises.
Despite the brief uplift in activity, retailers continue to face a mixed environment in which weather conditions and consumer confidence both play a role in shaping UK shopping patterns.
