Retail footfall dips for third consecutive week amid heatwave

Retail footfall fell for the third consecutive week across the UK, as hot weather and shifting visitor patterns contributed to declines in shopping centre and retail park activity, according to data from MRI Software.

Overall footfall declined by 1.8% in the week to 17 August compared with the previous seven days. Shopping centres saw the steepest drop, down 2.7%, while retail park visits fell 2.4%. High streets recorded a smaller decline of 1.1%.

The drop was largely driven by a sharp fall in visits on Tuesday and Wednesday, when footfall across all retail destinations dropped by an average of 4.4%. Shopping centres were hardest hit midweek, with a 5.2% decline.

High streets showed a more mixed pattern, with footfall rising on Sunday, Monday and Thursday by an average of 2.6%. However, these increases failed to offset declines on other days.

Coastal towns bucked the national trend, recording a 3.6% weekly increase in footfall, likely boosted by warm weather. In contrast, Central London saw visits fall 3.6%.

Scotland recorded the strongest regional rise, with footfall up 3.8%, coinciding with the Oasis reunion tour moving from London to Edinburgh. The South West saw the sharpest drop among regions.

Compared with the same week in 2024, visits were slightly lower in retail parks (down 1.1%) and shopping centres (down 1.3%), while high streets remained flat.

Analysts suggest that cooler weather and the end of the summer holiday period may bring a boost to retail destinations this week, as consumers prepare for the bank holiday weekend and back-to-school shopping.