UK retail footfall declined sharply in February as heavy rainfall and continued economic pressures kept shoppers away from stores, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic.

Across February 2026, total UK footfall fell 4.7 per cent year on year, a significant drop compared with the 0.6 per cent decline recorded in January.

High streets and shopping centres were hit hardest, while retail parks proved slightly more resilient.

High street footfall fell 5.4 per cent year on year in February, worsening from the 1.9 per cent decline recorded the previous month. Shopping centre visits dropped 5.5 per cent, compared with a 0.8 per cent fall in January.

Retail parks performed comparatively better but still recorded a 3.1 per cent decline, reversing the 1.1 per cent growth seen in January.

The downturn coincided with an incredibly wet February, which discouraged consumers from visiting physical retail destinations.

“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, a blow felt most keenly by clothing and footwear retailers. Every UK region saw fewer shoppers, but some northern cities, more used to wet weather, proved more resilient.”

London was among the weakest performing regions, recording its steepest decline in footfall since April 2024 with a drop of 6.3 per cent year on year.

Dickinson added that the government should take action to support struggling high streets, particularly through reform of business rates.

“While the government can’t control the weather, it can help turn footfall around by incentivising local investment,” she said.

“Its recently announced plan for a new High Street Strategy must look at outdated taxes such as business rates which for too long have held back our local communities. The strategy needs to recognise that raising so much tax revenue through property taxes is no longer sustainable.”

Footfall fell across all UK nations during February. Northern Ireland recorded the smallest decline at 2.3 per cent, followed by Scotland at 3.0 per cent. England saw a 5.0 per cent drop while Wales experienced the steepest fall, down 5.8 per cent year on year.

At a regional level, London recorded the largest decline at 6.3 per cent, followed by the West Midlands at 5.9 per cent and both the East of England and Wales at 5.8 per cent.

Some cities proved more resilient despite the difficult conditions. Bristol recorded the smallest drop at 1.6 per cent, while Manchester and Edinburgh saw declines of 2.3 per cent and 2.5 per cent respectively.

Birmingham experienced the steepest decline among major cities, with footfall falling 10.4 per cent year on year, followed by Liverpool which saw an 8.5 per cent drop.

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant EMEA at Sensormatic, said the combination of poor weather and ongoing financial pressure on households created a difficult trading environment for retailers.

“February proved a more challenging month for UK retail, with footfall slipping further into decline and reversing the tentative progress seen in January,” he said.

“Exceptionally heavy rainfall – well above the seasonal average – kept shoppers away from high streets and retail destinations, driving a natural shift towards online shopping as consumers chose convenience and shelter from the downpours.”

He added that wider economic pressures also weighed on spending behaviour.

“Continued food price inflation and rising unemployment continued to weigh on household budgets, making both discretionary trips and discretionary spending easier to delay.”

Despite the challenging month, retailers may see a rebound in the coming weeks as seasonal events approach.

“With Mother’s Day on the horizon and the prospect of brighter, more inviting spring weather ahead, retailers will be hoping for a lift in shopper sentiment, and in footfall, as consumers re-engage and return to stores,” Sumpter said.

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