UK shopper visits dipped 0.6% in January 2026 but improved from December’s decline, driven by better weather, value shopping, and retail park growth.

Shopper footfall in the UK fell 0.6% in January 2026 compared to the same month the previous year, but showed improvement from a 2.9% decline in December, according to BRC-Sensormatic data. Northern Ireland led UK regions with a 3.8% increase, driven by stronger shopping centre visits and milder weather, while Scotland saw the highest growth at 5.1%. High street visits dropped 1.9%, and shopping centre footfall fell 0.8%, though both improved from holiday season lows. Retail parks grew, especially in northern areas affected by storms last year, benefiting from free parking and January sales. Retailers cited improved consumer confidence, value-seeking behaviors, and better weather as factors behind the modest rebound, marking the best retail performance in five months.