The British retail sector experienced a disappointing summer as footfall figures for July 2025 showed little sign of the hoped-for seasonal uplift. According to data from BRC-Sensormatic, total UK retail footfall fell by 0.4% year-on-year in July, marking the second consecutive year of decline in summer shopper visits.
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While there was a slight improvement compared to June's 1.8% decrease, the figures reveal an uneven performance across retail locations and regions. High Street footfall dropped by 1.7% in July (up from -3.0% in June), and Shopping Centre footfall declined by 0.3% (improved from -1.6%). Conversely, Retail Parks bucked the trend, recording a 1.7% increase in footfall compared to the same period last year, up from -1.1% in June. Regional variations were also noted, with Wales experiencing a 0.4% rise in footfall, while England (-0.3%), Scotland (-1.3%), and Northern Ireland (-3.0%) faced declines.
Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium, commented on the overall trend:
'July failed to bring about the summer boost in shoppers many retailers had hoped for. Instead, footfall dipped in July for the second consecutive year. There were bright spots, with Manchester, Birmingham, and Leeds all showing an improvement in numbers of store visits. Retail parks continued to outperform other destinations with some seeing big brands opening new outlets.'
Dickinson emphasised the ongoing challenges facing town and city centres:
'Customers want a vibrant shopping destination, but with around one in seven shops lying empty, more needs to be done to turn town and city centres into places people want to visit. While government's plan to reduce business rates for most Retail, Hospitality and Leisure premises is a step in the right direction, only a substantial cut will truly benefit communities nationwide and help bring thousands of empty shops back into use. Many smaller shops and businesses rely on larger anchor stores to attract footfall so the upcoming reforms must also ensure no store pays more, or risk seeing many larger stores close their doors or raise their prices.'
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, noted that positive sporting events had not translated into sustained retail gains:
'England's Lionesses might have won the Women's Euros in July, but footfall has not yet come home it seems. Total retail for the UK remains stubbornly negative at -0.4%. Retail parks were positive yet again, at +1.7%, perhaps yielding the benefits of greater occupancy and continued new openings. High Streets and Shopping Centres saw softer declines than last month of -1.7% and -0.3% respectively. Other events such as the Oasis tour have given local uplifts in traffic, only for it to slide away shortly after.'
Sumpter also highlighted the influence of weather and political sentiment on consumer behaviour:
'The early-July heatwave, following a scorcher in June, may have lifted leisure footfall more than retail, while one year into a new Labour government, consumer sentiment remains cautious. The underlying footfall trend may be improving, but this is still negative growth on negative 2024 figures - raising the question: are shoppers returning, or simply shopping around more as they try to spend less? Either way, retailers who can offer value, experience, and convenience may be best placed to convert tentative footfall into lasting growth.'
The data underlines the complex environment faced by UK retailers this summer, as economic pressures, changing shopping habits, and structural challenges in retail locations shape the trajectory of recovery.
More information:
British Retail Consortium (BRC)
[email protected]
www.brc.org.uk
