UK retail footfall records first annual decline since 2019
High streets see sharpest monthly fall in over a decade as September figures signal return to pre-pandemic trends
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Retail footfall across the UK fell by 0.2% year on year in September, the first annual decline since 2019, according to figures from MRI Software.
The data, covering the five-week period from 31 August to 4 October 2025, marks the sharpest month-on-month drop in activity since 2014.
The overall decline was driven by a 1.1% fall in high street visits, while shopping centres were down 0.2%. Retail parks bucked the trend, rising 1.9% year on year.
The figures indicate that retail activity is returning to pre-pandemic patterns, shaped once again by natural seasonality, weather and consumer sentiment.
Month on month, total footfall declined by 4.4%, reflecting the steepest September drop in more than a decade. High streets recorded the largest fall at 6.3%, followed by retail parks at 3.9% and shopping centres at 0.9%.
The decline aligns with typical September trends as schools reopen and post-summer routines resume, following a strong trading period earlier in the year.
Weekday visits rose 0.5% compared with last year, offsetting a 0.9% decline at weekends, reflecting the continued recovery of commuter-led activity.
In central London, MRI Software’s “Back to Office” benchmark fell 5.6% month on month, with early September activity hit by a post-holiday slowdown and the end of the month affected by Storm Amy. Despite this, footfall in the capital rose marginally by 0.1% year on year, indicating a gradual recovery in the city’s retail core.
Storm Amy, the first named storm of the season, brought widespread disruption in the final week of the reporting period, driving a 4.2% week-on-week fall in national footfall. High street visits dropped 14.7% on 3 and 4 October, while shopping centres and retail parks were less affected.
Consumer confidence weakened in September, falling two points to -19 following August’s interest rate rise. While overall spending remains subdued, the use of Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services has increased, particularly among older shoppers, with adoption among 55–64-year-olds more than doubling over the past year.
MRI Software said that with weather volatility and tighter household budgets shaping the run-up to Christmas, agility in staffing, promotions and digital engagement will be key for retailers entering the Golden Quarter.
