Shopper footfall fell sharply in October as stormy weather and rising household costs combined to keep consumers away from the shops, new figures show.

Total UK footfall was down 4.7% year on year in October, sliding from a 2.9% drop in September, according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and Sensormatic. It was the steepest monthly fall since April.

High streets hit hardest

High streets were the worst affected, with footfall down 5.2% on a year earlier. Trips to shopping centres fell by 4.1%, while visits to retail parks dropped by 3.6%.

Every part of the UK saw footfall fall. Wales recorded the biggest decline, down 6.3%, followed by England at 4.6%, Scotland at 4.3% and Northern Ireland at 3.1%.

Storms and squeezed budgets

Back-to-back named storms Austen and Boelo brought damaging winds, heavy rain and widespread disruption, including power cuts affecting hundreds of thousands of homes.

"Footfall fell sharply in every part of the UK in October," said BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson. "Low consumer confidence was likely a key factor in the decline in visitors, as households navigated rising inflation and high energy costs."

She added that high streets were hit hardest, as the stormy weather led many consumers to stay home or use locations with easy parking options.

Shoppers stay cautious before Christmas

The figures land as retailers head into the crucial Christmas trading period. Consumer confidence also fell sharply in October, with the GfK index dropping 11 points to −24, its lowest level in more than three years, according to BDO's monthly review of the high street.

October's sales picture was mixed: overall like-for-like sales rose 4.6%, driven online, with non-store sales up 10.1% while in-store sales grew just 2.2%.

Sources: Press Association, 6 November 2026; The Grocer, 6 November 2026; Retail Week, 6 November 2026; BDO High Street Sales Tracker, October 2026.