Retail footfall takes another hit in April

Total UK footfall decreased year on year by 10.7% in April, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium.

Figures show the total football in April was also down 2.4% on March of this year.

Specifically, year on year, high street footfall decreased by 9.2%, retail park footfall by 9.0% and shopping centre footfall by 10.1%.

In terms of geographic breakdown on a yearly comparison, Scotland was down 5.2%, England down 11.3%, Wales down 13.8% and Northern Ireland down 14.3%.

The way in which the Easter weekend falls always impacts figures at this time of year so the BRC often looks at the data with March and April combined to ensure a more accurate outlook.

Take the two months together, compared with the same two months in 2025, total UK footfall decreased by 3.9%. The high street down 3.3%, retail parks by 3.0% and shopping centres by 3.0%.

Helen Dickinson, CEO of the BRC, hopes warmer weather and major sporting events can have a positive impact for retailers in the coming months.

She explained: “Even after correcting for Easter, April was still a weak month for footfall. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East pushed consumer confidence to new lows, prompting consumers to make fewer trips to the shops. While footfall declined in every city, London proved reasonably resilient during the tube strikes, as people adapted, finding alternative routes into the capital.

“Retailers will be hoping that a sunnier outlook and major sporting events, like the World Cup, help reverse this trend in the months ahead. However, the prospect of higher inflation due to the conflict in Middle East could limit consumer appetite for shopping. While government can’t change the situation in the Middle East, it can help limit inflationary risks by addressing some domestic cost pressures on business. This includes reducing non-commodity charges, levies and taxes which account for up to 65% of a typical business energy bill.”