Shopping visits across the UK fell in February as wet weather kept consumers at home, figures show.
Total visitor footfall in the UK decreased by 4.7% year-on-year, compared to a 0.6% decline in January, according to data from British Retail Consortium (BRC)-Sensormatic.
Shopping centers experienced a drop of 5.5%, while footfall on the streets decreased by 5.4%.
London was among the worst performing countries, recording its steepest drop in footfall since April 2024.
Footfall decreased year on year in all countries, by 2.3% in Northern Ireland, 3% in Scotland, 5% in England and 5.8% in Wales.
BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “In one of the wettest Februarys on record, shoppers avoided visiting stores last month.
“Footfall was down everywhere, with high streets and shopping centers hardest hit, a blow felt most acutely by clothing and footwear retailers.”
Andy Sumpter, of Sensormatic, said: “February proved to be a more challenging month for UK retail, with footfall falling further and reversing the tentative progress seen in January.
“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 rain.
“Economic pressures added an additional layer of stress. Continued food price inflation and rising unemployment continued to weigh on household budgets, making both travel and discretionary spending easier to delay.”
