UK retail footfall fell in December as more consumers delayed spending in the run-up to the sales period, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic footfall data. T

otal footfall across all UK shopping destinations dropped year-on-year, signalling continued pressure on physical stores amid evolving shopper behaviour and economic headwinds.

Overall retail footfall was down compared with last year, with shopping centres and retail parks among the hardest hit.

December footfall drops as shoppers wait for post-Christmas sales

New figures show that total UK retail footfall declined by about 2.9% year-on-year in December, worsening from a smaller drop in November.

The broader “Golden Quarter” — covering October through December — saw footfall fall by 2.2% compared with the same period a year earlier. Across 2025 as a whole, total UK footfall was down 0.8% on 2024.

Footfall performance varied by location: high streets recorded a smaller decline of 0.9%, while retail parks and shopping centres experienced larger drops of 2.5% and 5.1% respectively.

All nations across the UK saw lower footfall in December, with England and Wales seeing the biggest decrease.

Changing shopping patterns and subdued festive traffic

Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, said December was a “disappointing” month for retailers as rising living costs encouraged shoppers to postpone purchases until the post-Christmas sales period.

Many consumers made fewer browsing trips in the lead-up to the holidays, choosing more targeted visits and waiting for discount activity later in the season.

The week following Christmas was the only period in December to register a noticeable uplift in visits, reflecting that shoppers were saving activity for discounted deals rather than traditional peak trading days.

This behaviour aligns with broader trends showing muted festive footfall across retail destinations.

Implications for retail destinations and industry outlook

Commentary from Sensormatic emphasises that December marked the eighth consecutive month of declining footfall, highlighting persistent challenges for physical retail.

While high streets showed more resilience than larger enclosed shopping centres, the overall trend captures a shift in consumer demand and competitive pressure from online channels.

Despite the downturn, there were signs of resilience relative to other developed markets, with the UK performing comparatively well among G7 nations in December.

Retail analysts suggest that destinations combining shopping with leisure and hospitality may be better positioned to attract footfall, underscoring the importance of experience-led retail strategies.

Readers in the industry should note that ongoing economic factors like rising living costs and changing consumer habits are likely to continue influencing retail footfall trends and shopper behaviour into 2026.