Extreme Weather Slashes Foot Traffic Across Retail Stores

Footfall Fizzles: The UK Retail Scene Gets A Rough Chill

Over the last five weeks—1 June to 5 July 2025—the British Retail Consortium (BRC) Sensomatic data has shown a slump in the number of shoppers walking the streets. The UK’s overall footfall fell by a crisp 1.8 % YoY in June, a tad worse than the –1.7 % dip in May.

Where Did the Footsteps Go?

High Street: Down 3.0 % YoY (down from a –2.5 % drop in May). “Sizzle, then drizzle—high streets got a double‑whammy of heat and storms.”
Retail parks: Under –1.1 % (you’d think the “park” would keep people coming, but it didn’t).
Shopping centres: Fell by –1.6 %, easing from a –2.3 % decline the month before.

The Northern Lights Are Really Not Lights Everywhere

Across the four nations, footfall fell everywhere, but the sting was strongest in Northern Ireland at a whopping –5.2 %. England saw a –1.4 % drop, Scotland –3.0 %, and Wales –3.3 %—a true nationwide slump.

Words from the Big Boss

Helen Dickinson, BRC Chief Executive, chimed in: “Extreme weather meant shoppers stayed away from their local stores last month, leading to a decline in footfall across all three key retail locations. High streets were particularly affected as extreme heat was followed by severe thunderstorms, discouraging visits.”

She added that “subdued consumer sentiment keeps shoppers cautious, making it harder for retailers to gulp in customers. But there are bright spots: Manchester and Birmingham have logged positive footfall for the third consecutive month, thanks to fresh new shops and big‑ticket concerts drawing in crowds.”

Government Promises But…

The government pledged a year ago to revitalize high streets, but footfall keeps sliding. Retailers are hit with rising costs from the latest Budget and an antiquated, broken business rates system that needs a makeover. Dickinson urges the Government’s reforms to not leave any shop paying more, which would relieve the pressure on high streets and allow communities to breathe again.

Retail Whisperer’s Take

Andy Sumpter from Sensomatic mused, “June gave us heatwaves, storms and perhaps the hottest June yet—yet sunshine didn’t spark a retail revival. Total UK footfall slipped by –1.8 % YoY, softer than the –2.3 % seen in June 2024. High Streets gaped by –3.0 % and Retail Parks and Shopping Centres dipped by –1.1 % and –1.6 % respectively.”

“One year past the general election, footfall is in the red. Consumer confidence still struggles, but the rate of decline’s easing. With summer in full swing, retailers who can mix value, experience, and convenience have a chance to turn seasonal footfall into lasting momentum.”