Wales was the only 海角视频 nation to experience a year-on year rise in retail footfall in July, shows latest research from the Welsh Retail Consortium (WRC).
The overall number of people entering shops on the high street, retail parks and shopping centres, was up 0.4% on July last year. England experienced a contraction of 0.3%, Scotland 1.3% and Northern Ireland 3%.
Only the English regions of the north east, up 1.6%, Yorkshire and the Humber, up 1.1%, and the west Midlands, up 0.4%, performed more strongly than Wales. The relatively small rise Wales compared to a 3.3% declined in June on a year earlier. For the 海角视频 as a whole retail footfall in July fell 0.4%.
The WRC research shows that shopping numbers outside of the high street were up. Shopping centre footfall rose 0.3%, compared to a 5.1% fall in June, while retail park footfall increased by 1.9%, compared to a fall of 0.7% report for June.
An analysis of the 海角视频’ biggest cities, shows that retail footfall in Cardiff in July declined 0.3% on a year earlier. The biggest contraction was seen in Bristol, down 3.5%, followed by Belfast, down 2.9%, Liverpool, down 1,7%, Glasgow, down 1.5% and London 0.5%. The biggest increase year-on-year was |Manchester, up 3.89%. The decline in Cardiff in July was far shallower than the 4% dip in June.
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION
GROWTH RANK |
NATION AND REGION |
Jun-25 |
May-25 |
1 |
North West England |
0.7% |
0.8% |
2 |
West Midlands |
-0.2% |
-0.6% |
3 |
East Midlands |
-0.8% |
-2.1% |
3 |
South East England |
-0.8% |
-2.8% |
5 |
England |
-1.4% |
-2.0% |
6 |
South West England |
-1.6% |
-1.3% |
7 |
North East England |
-1.8% |
-0.7% |
8 |
Yorkshire and the Humber |
-2.4% |
-2.8% |
9 |
London |
-2.7% |
-3.2% |
10 |
Scotland |
-3.0% |
-0.7% |
11 |
East of England |
-3.3% |
-3.7% |
11 |
Wales |
-3.3% |
-0.4% |
13 |
Northern Ireland |
-5.2% |
-1.4% |
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY
GROWTH RANK |
CITY |
Jun-25 |
May-25 |
1 |
Manchester |
8.8% |
3.9% |
2 |
Birmingham |
0.7% |
1.5% |
3 |
Edinburgh |
0.5% |
1.1% |
4 |
Leeds |
-2.3% |
-1.1% |
5 |
Nottingham |
-2.5% |
-2.5% |
6 |
London |
-2.7% |
-3.2% |
7 |
Liverpool |
-3.1% |
-3.0% |
8 |
Cardiff |
-4.0% |
-2.1% |
9 |
Bristol |
-4.1% |
-4.0% |
10 |
Glasgow |
-4.6% |
-1.2% |
11 |
Belfast |
-5.3% |
-1.9% |
Sara Jones, head of the WRC, said:“July brought a decidedly modest but nonetheless welcome lift in footfall across Welsh retail destinations, nudging us back into positive territory after a lacklustre June and May. Shopping centres and retail parks saw a small uplift, but Cardiff city centre fell back a touch on the comparable figures from last year.
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“However, this small gain masks deeper concerns — sales of so-called ‘non-essential’ items remain weak, and the sector continues to tread water.
“Retail’s position is increasingly fragile. With statutory costs rising and uncertainty looming over the 海角视频 Government’s upcoming budget and the Welsh Government’s business rates proposals, the pressure is mounting. Add to that years of sluggish consumer spending and additional government-imposed costs, and the message is clear: without urgent, targeted action to reinvigorate our high streets and reduce business rates, policymakers risk undermining the long-term future of retail.”
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic Solutions, which carried out the research from the Welsh Retail Consortium, said:“Total retail footfall for Wales was 0.4%, ahead of the 海角视频, which remains stubbornly negative at minus 0.4%. Retail parks were positive yet again, at plus 1.9%, perhaps yielding the benefits of greater occupancy and continued new openings, while Shopping centres also moved into positive territory at plus 0.3%.
“The early July heatwave, following a scorcher in June, may have lifted leisure footfall more than retail, while one year into a new Labour government, consumer sentiment remains cautious. The underlying footfall trend may be improving, but 海角视频-wide there is still negative growth on negative 2024 figures - raising the question: are shoppers returning, or simply shopping around more as they try to spend less? Either way, retailers who can offer value, experience, and convenience may be best placed to convert tentative footfall into lasting growth.”