Exceptionally wet weather in February kept shoppers away from UK retail destinations, contributing to a 4.7% year-on-year drop in total footfall, according to the latest BRC-Sensormatic data covering the four weeks from 1 to 28 February 2026.
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The decline was seen across all retail formats. High street footfall fell by 5.4%, shopping centres dropped by 5.5%, and retail parks decreased by 3.1% compared with the same period last year. All UK nations recorded lower shopper numbers, with the largest decline seen in Wales (-5.8%), followed by England (-5.0%), Scotland (-3.0%), and Northern Ireland (-2.3%).
While fashion retailers were among the hardest hit, the weaker store traffic also reflects a broader slowdown in discretionary retail spending, which can affect sectors such as home furnishings, interiors and furniture retail that rely heavily on in-store browsing and showroom visits.
"One of the wettest Februarys on record saw shoppers shy away from in-store visits last month," said Helen Dickinson, Chief Executive of the British Retail Consortium. "Footfall was down across all locations, with high streets and shopping centres hit hardest."
The figures underline how external factors such as weather conditions can quickly influence store-based retail performance, particularly for categories where customers often prefer to see products in person before purchasing.
In addition to the weather, economic pressures continue to weigh on consumer confidence. According to Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA at Sensormatic, rising food prices and increasing unemployment are putting pressure on household budgets, making discretionary shopping trips easier to postpone.
"Exceptionally heavy rainfall kept shoppers away from high streets and retail destinations, driving a natural shift towards online shopping," Sumpter noted.
For the furniture and interiors sector, which typically relies on physical showrooms, retail parks and destination stores, reduced footfall may translate into slower in-store sales, particularly during the late winter trading period when large home purchases are often postponed.
However, retailers are hopeful that improving spring weather and seasonal events such as Mother's Day could help revive consumer sentiment and bring shoppers back to physical stores in the coming weeks.
Industry leaders are also calling for broader structural support to revitalise retail locations, including reforms to business rates and high street investment policies, which they say are needed to strengthen the long-term outlook for UK retail and local shopping destinations.
More information:
BRC
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www.brc.org.uk
