Despite favourable weather and a stabilising stock market, UK retail footfall declined in May 2025, signalling a subdued start to the summer trading season. According to new data from BRC-Sensormatic, total UK footfall fell by 1.7% year-on-year, reversing April's more encouraging +7.2% figure.
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High Streets and Shopping Centres experienced notable slowdowns, with footfall dropping by 2.5% and 2.3% respectively. Retail Parks, typically more resilient, managed only a marginal 0.2% year-on-year increase. Regional figures showed a consistent downturn, with England seeing the largest decline at 2.0%.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, noted: 'Despite favourable weather throughout May, footfall took a disappointing turn last month, following a more promising start to the year. While stock markets stabilised, higher household bills depressed consumer sentiment and the appetite to visit retail stores.'
Dickinson highlighted the pressure on retailers, especially those in the interior design and furniture sectors, who are grappling with increased operating costs: 'The Chancellor's 2024 Budget added £5 billion to the industry's costs… upcoming reforms to business rates… should support and incentivise, rather than penalise, the investment needed to revitalise our high streets and town centres.'
Sensormatic's Retail Consultant EMEA, Andy Sumpter, added: 'May's footfall figures showed a modest decline… Despite the warm and sunny weather, more typical of peak summer than late spring, footfall didn't quite follow suit, suggesting that consumers may have favoured outdoor leisure over shopping.'
Still, Sumpter pointed to a silver lining: 'Consumer sentiment has shown signs of improvement… retailers will be looking to make hay while the sun shines, focusing on the right mix of experience, value, and convenience to convert seasonal footfall into sustained growth.'
As summer unfolds, B2B design and furniture providers must adapt to these shifts in retail dynamics.
More information:
British Retail Consortium (BRC)
www.brc.org.uk