Total UK footfall was down 4.7% year on year, a plunge from January’s 0.6% decrease, according to British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic data. Shopping centres saw a 5.5% fall while high street footfall was down 5.4%. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “One of the wettest Februarys on record saw shoppers shy away from in-store visits last month. “Exceptionally heavy rainfall – well above the seasonal average – kept shoppers away from high streets and retail destinations, driving a natural shift towards online shopping as consumers chose convenience and shelter from the downpours. Continued food price inflation and rising unemployment continued to weigh on household budgets, making both discretionary trips and discretionary spending easier to delay.”

Source: The Herald March 06, 2026 12:16 UTC