Business · Economy · 2 hrs ago
UK shopper visits fell 4.7% in October as costs and storms deterred consumers
UK shopper visits fell 4.7% in October compared with the same month last year, according to figures from the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic.
High streets saw the biggest drop, with footfall down 5.2%; retail parks fell 3.6% and shopping centres 4.1%.
The overall decline was steeper than in September, when visits were down 2.9%.
Stormy weather and rising household costs were cited as reasons people stayed home or focused spending on essentials.
Halloween brought a brief lift, but discretionary shopping remained under pressure as consumer confidence stayed low.
Retailers are looking to Black Friday for a boost during the Golden Quarter, the key holiday shopping period.
UK shopper footfall fell 4.7% year-on-year in October, according to the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic.
High streets saw the largest decline, with visits down 5.2% compared with October last year.
Retail park footfall fell 3.6%, while shopping centre visits dropped 4.1%.
The BRC said low consumer confidence, rising inflation and high energy costs likely contributed to the decline.
Stormy weather also deterred shoppers, while Halloween brought only a brief seasonal uplift.
- Who
- UK shoppers, as measured by the British Retail Consortium and Sensormatic.
- What
- Total UK footfall fell 4.7% year-on-year in October.
- When
- October. The figures were published on November 6, 2026.
- Where
- Across the UK, with high streets, retail parks and shopping centres all recording declines.
- Why
- The BRC cited low consumer confidence, rising inflation and high energy costs. Stormy weather also led some consumers to stay home or choose places with easy parking.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Total UK footfall was down 2.9% year-on-year.
Total UK footfall fell 4.7% year-on-year, while high street visits fell 5.2%.
Halloween delivered a brief seasonal uplift for retailers.
The figures were published by the Evening Standard.
- Total UK footfall
- Down 4.7% year-on-year in October
- High street footfall
- Down 5.2% year-on-year
- Retail park footfall
- Down 3.6% year-on-year
- Shopping centre footfall
- Down 4.1% year-on-year
- September footfall
- Down 2.9% year-on-year
What people are saying
Footfall fell sharply in every part of the UK in October.
Low consumer confidence was likely a key factor in the decline in visitors, as households navigated rising inflation and high energy costs.
Halloween delivered a brief seasonal uplift, but beyond that, retailers found little to celebrate.
Attention now turns squarely towards the Black Friday period, which increasingly looks like a critical opportunity to inject some momentum into a Golden Quarter that has so far struggled to live up to its name.