New data reveals a mixed picture for UK retail footfall in January, with a notable recovery from the disappointing Christmas period but continued year-on-year declines across most of the country.
January Footfall Shows Improvement Over Christmas
According to the latest British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic figures, shopper visits across the United Kingdom decreased by 0.6% compared to January of the previous year. However, this represents a significant improvement from the 2.9% decline recorded during December's crucial Christmas shopping period.
Regional Variations in Shopping Patterns
The data reveals substantial regional disparities in shopper behavior. Scotland demonstrated the strongest performance with an impressive 5.1% year-on-year increase in footfall, while Northern Ireland also recorded substantial growth of 3.8%.
By contrast, England experienced a 1.4% decline in shopper visits compared to the same period last year, with Wales showing an even steeper drop of 2.8%. The best performing cities were predominantly located in northern regions, where retail traffic had been severely impacted by extreme weather conditions during the previous year.
Different Retail Environments Show Varied Results
The breakdown by retail location type reveals further complexity in the footfall patterns. High street visits fell by a more pronounced 1.9% year-on-year in January, worsening from the 0.9% decrease seen in December. Shopping centre footfall declined by 0.8% in January but showed marked improvement from the 5.1% plunge experienced during the Christmas period.
Retail parks emerged as a relative bright spot, recording positive growth as consumers took advantage of free parking facilities to shop in person during January sales events.
Industry Leaders Express Cautious Optimism
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson commented on the figures, stating: "Although footfall edged down in January compared to a year earlier, it was much better than the disappointing Christmas period. An uptick in consumer confidence and possible signs of a footfall recovery offer some cautious optimism for some spring-like green shoots."
Andy Sumpter from Sensormatic added further context: "January offered a welcome reset for UK retail, with footfall recording its best performance in five months. Some of this uplift will have been driven by savvier spending behaviors, as consumers took advantage of new year promotions and sought out value after a stretched festive period."
Weather Continues to Influence Shopping Behavior
Sumpter also noted the ongoing impact of weather conditions on retail activity: "Storm Goretti, however, put a dampener on activity in parts of the month, disrupting travel and suppressing visits — a reminder that weather can play an outsized role in shaping shopper behavior."
The January figures suggest that while UK retail continues to face challenges, there are emerging signs of resilience and recovery following a difficult Christmas trading period. The regional variations highlight how different factors, from weather patterns to consumer confidence, continue to shape the evolving retail landscape across the country.
