Wales has seen the biggest fall in retail footfall in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ with Cardiff also experiencing the largest year-on-year dip of leading cities.
According to the Welsh Retail Consortium the number of shoppers in Wales entering stores on the high street, shopping centres and retail parks in August was down 2.6% on the previous year. The fall was the joint steepest with the south east of England. For England there was a 0.2% fall, while Scotland was down 0.4% and Northern Ireland 1.7%. The biggest rise, 2.5%, was in London.
The overall fall in Wales accelerated on the 0.4% decline in July. On the subsectors making up the overall rate, Welsh shopping centre footfall decreased 3.7% in August on the previous year, with retail park footfall down 2.7%.
Of the 11 core cities assessed the biggest year-on-year decline was seen in Cardiff, with a fall of 4.1%, compared to a dip of 0.3% in July.
The second biggest decline was Bristol, down 3.8%, followed by Glasgow, down 1.9%. The other eight cities measures experienced a rise in year-on-year footfall ,. the highest being Birmingham, up 6.2%, followed by 5.7% in Sheffield and 3.9% in Manchester.
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION
GROWTH RANK | NATION AND REGION | Aug-25 | Jul-25 |
1 | London | 2.5% | -0.5% |
2 | North West England | 0.6% | 0.3% |
3 | West Midlands | 0.4% | 0.4% |
4 | North East England | 0.1% | 1.6% |
4 | Yorkshire and the Humber | 0.1% | 1.1% |
6 | England | -0.2% | -0.3% |
7 | Scotland | -0.4% | -1.3% |
8 | East Midlands | -1.2% | -0.2% |
9 | Northern Ireland | -1.7% | -3.0% |
10 | East of England | -1.9% | -1.6% |
11 | South West England | -2.5% | -1.2% |
12 | South East England | -2.6% | -1.3% |
12 | Wales | -2.6% | 0.4% |
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY
GROWTH RANK | CITY | Aug-25 | Jul-25 |
1 | Birmingham | 6.2% | 2.6% |
2 | Sheffield | 5.7% | 7.3% |
3 | Manchester | 3.9% | 3.9% |
4 | Liverpool | 3.0% | -1.7% |
5 | Edinburgh | 2.7% | 0.6% |
5 | Leeds | 2.7% | 2.4% |
7 | London | 2.5% | -0.5% |
8 | Belfast | 1.0% | -2.9% |
9 | Glasgow | -1.9% | -1.5% |
10 | Bristol | -3.8% | -3.5% |
11 | Cardiff | -4.1% | -0.3% |
Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said:“August proved challenging for Welsh retailers, with shopper footfall declining across all retail destinations. Wales recorded the lowest footfall of any º£½ÇÊÓƵ nation, falling by almost 3% compared to July. Cardiff was hit particularly hard, with a 4.1% drop in visitors, despite a packed calendar of summer events and promotional campaign. Indeed, it seems concert-going and experiences trumped visits to stores during the month.
“These figures are especially concerning for high street retailers operating in discretionary categories, many of whom are already grappling with rising costs and fragile consumer confidence. With the Welsh Government actively reviewing the business rates system, it is vital that no store pays more. In today’s climate, any decision that adds to the cost burden on retail businesses will ultimately be felt by all of us - whether as consumers or as stakeholders in the health of the Welsh economy.
“Retailers are working hard to deliver vibrant, engaging shopping experiences, but they cannot shoulder the challenges alone. Policymakers must act decisively to support the sector and avoid compounding pressures that risk undermining its future.â€
Andy Sumpter, a retail consultant with Sensormatic Solutions which carried out the research, said: “August marked the end of the Wales’ hottest meteorological summer on record, but footfall in cooled more sharply to well below the º£½ÇÊÓƵ average. And while the sun may have shone, there may be metaphorical storms ahead. Retailers continue to be asked to do more with less, even as the cost of delivering great service rises. But shoppers are out there, and they’re shopping around, which means opportunity is on the table. Growth is possible, but it demands boldness: investment, innovation, and a willingness to take calculated risks.
“For many, winning business hinges on service, which requires labour—and labour is more expensive than ever. The sector is resilient, but resilience alone won’t reignite momentum. To avoid flatlining or worse, we need a spark. Whether that comes from innovation, creativity, or external support and investment, one thing’s clear: retail still matters—and it needs the right conditions to thrive.â€
