UK shopper footfall fell 4.7% year-on-year in October, a sharp deterioration from a 2.9% drop in September, according to the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic. The high street bore the brunt of the decline, with visits down 5.2% year-on-year compared with a 3% fall the previous month. Shopping centres saw footfall decline 4.1%, while retail parks experienced a 3.6% drop.
The weakness was widespread across the country. England recorded a 4.6% year-on-year fall in footfall, Scotland saw a 4.3% drop, Northern Ireland fell 3.1%, and Wales suffered the steepest decline at 6.3%. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson attributed the sharp fall to low consumer confidence as households grappled with rising inflation and high energy costs. The stormy weather in October proved particularly damaging to high streets, as many consumers opted to stay home or visit locations with easier parking options.
Despite a brief seasonal uplift from Halloween, the underlying picture remained bleak for retailers. Andy Sumpter, head of consulting and analytics at Sensormatic, said shoppers continued to prioritise essential spending, leaving discretionary retail expenditure under pressure. This came even as the retail industry entered the Golden Quarter, the crucial trading period running from October through December.
Retailers are now pinning hopes on the Black Friday period as a critical opportunity to revive trading during the Golden Quarter, which has so far failed to meet expectations. Helen Dickinson called for the Government's promised Crime and Policing Act to be implemented, arguing that making high streets safer for both shoppers and retail staff was essential for their rejuvenation. The legislation would lower the theft threshold from £200 and give workers greater protections.
For UK households, the figures suggest that rising living costs are forcing consumers to cut back on non-essential purchases, while bad weather compounds the pressure on physical retail locations.