May’s dip in footfall numbers tips over into June – BRC-Sensormatic

Data gatherers agree, it’s been a slow start to summer shopping. The latest to record a softly-softly approach from consumers to retail spending is BRC-Sensormatic.

Activity for the four weeks covering 4-31 May dipped to -1.7% year-on-year, way down from +7.2% in a busy Easter April.

High Street footfall fell to -2.5% in May, down from +5.3% in April, Retail Parks proved their ongoing resilience, increasing 0.2% but still fell from +7.5%the previous month and Shopping Centre footfall dipped 2.3% in May down from +5.6% in April.

It said footfall decreased year-on-year across all nations: down 0.4% in Wales, 0.7% in Scotland, 1.4% in Northern Ireland, and the largest decrease of 2% in England.

BRC CEO Helen Dickinson said: “Despite favourable weather throughout May, footfall took a disappointing turn last month, following a more promising start to the year. 

“While stock markets stabilised, higher household bills depressed consumer sentiment and the appetite to visit retail stores.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, added that the early good weather “may have favoured outdoor leisure over shopping. Still, May’s result is a marked improvement on the -3.6% seen in the same month last year and reflects a more stable trend in 2025 overall.”

He added: “Encouragingly, consumer sentiment has shown signs of improvement, with more shoppers feeling optimistic about their personal finances and the wider economy. Notwithstanding ongoing cost pressures, retailers will be looking to make hay while the sun shines—focusing on the right mix of experience, value, and convenience to convert seasonal footfall into sustained growth.”

Earlier this month, MRI said footfall numbers were also slow at the start of this month (1-7 June) from the previous week, the sharpest week-on-week decline experienced since the seven days that followed the Easter period. 

It said overall, weekly footfall in UK retail destinations weakened by 8%, especially noticeable in shopping centres (-10.4%) with high streets following closely behind (-9%). Retail parks witnessed a more modest decline in activity at -3.5%.