UK retail footfall fell by 2.9% YoY in December, with high street visits down 0.9%.

According to the latest data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic, retail footfall was down 0.8% YoY across the UK. It fell 1.5% in Scotland, 1.7% in Northern Ireland and 3.1% in England and Wales.

In retail parks, footfall fell by 2.5%. While shopping centre footfall was down 5.1%.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC said it was a “disappointing December for retailers” as footfall declined across all shopping locations, as well as in the major cities.

“In the face of rising bills and food costs, many consumers held off for post-Christmas sales, with the week after Christmas the only one to see a significant uplift. Shoppers were also browsing less in the lead-up to Christmas, making fewer, but more targeted shopping trips, particularly in shopping centres, which saw the largest drop in footfall.

“Last month’s figures capped a challenging year, with total shopper traffic down in 2025. This marks the third consecutive year of annual footfall decline, reflecting the continuing evolution in shopping habits and the retail landscape. Those shopping locations which have bucked the trend have done so by creating a complete offering, making themselves a destination for shopping, eating, drinking and leisure activities. To encourage a wider improvement in footfall it’s essential that Government fosters the economic environment needed for retailers to increase investment in their stores and their communities.”

Before Christmas, footfall was “stubbornly muted” on 23 December), according to research from Sensormatic Solutions, with store visits down by 13.1% compared to the previous year. Retail park visits also declined 8.6% year-on-year.

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, said: “December marked the eighth consecutive month of declining footfall, with UK shopper traffic down 2.9% YoY, bringing the golden quarter to a muted -2.2%.

“Yet, despite the challenges, there are still pockets of demand to be tapped. Shopper traffic rallied outside traditional peak days, showing festive buying patterns are changing. And while UK footfall fell YoY, it was the second strongest among G7 markets in December, a sign of resilience in a tough trading climate.”

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