Retail footfall in high street plummeted by 9.3% YoY in February 2024. Credit: William Barton via Shutterstock.com.

Total retail footfall in the UK decreased by 6.2% year-on-year (YoY) in February 2024. This is a further decline from a 2.8% fall in January, according to data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic IQ. 

In the four weeks from 28 January to 24 February 2024, high street footfall in the UK plummeted by 9.3% YoY, down from a 2.3% drop in January. 

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In shopping centres, footfall declined by 7% over the month, a drop from the 5% fall seen in the previous month. 

Footfall in retail parks also decreased by 5.8% YoY, down from a decline of 1.8% in January. 

All regions within the UK reported a YoY fall in footfall over the month.  Scotland experienced the smallest at minus 3.2%, followed by England with a drop of minus 6.6%.  Northern Ireland saw minus 7.1% and Wales minus 8%. 

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said: “Footfall experienced its biggest fall since the pandemic. One of the wettest Februarys on record, exacerbated by train strikes at the start of the month, meant shoppers visited fewer stores, with high streets most affected.” She highlighted London’s significant decline, noting that the city had previously been outperforming other major UK cities in terms of footfall. 

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“With these figures showing the UK underperforming compared to other developed markets, it’s time the government took action to drive tourist footfall and spending across the UK.  

“Since the end of VAT-free shopping for tourists in 2021, the UK has been at a competitive disadvantage compared to its European counterparts. With footfall in major hubs trending downwards in recent months, the Chancellor must re-instate VAT-free shopping in his budget to support businesses and jobs across the UK.” 

Data released in late February 2024 by BRC revealed that shop price inflation in the UK decreased to its lowest level since March 2022, registering at 2.5% in February 2024.