The Welsh Retail Consortium has published retail footfall figures for January

Welsh retailers have reported another fall in shoppers, according to new research commissioned by the Welsh Retail Consortium. In January retailers, across the high street, shopping centres and retail parks, reported footfall down 2.8% year-on-year. This was compared to a 3.1% dip in December.

The biggest category year-on-year fall was shopping centres, with footfall down 6.1%. Retail park footfall dipped 2.4%.

For England in January retail footfall was down 1.4%. There were though rises in Northern Ireland, up 3.8% and Scotland 5.1%. Of the UK nations and regions, the fall was only greater in Wales in the east of England, down 3%, and the west Midlands, down 3.9%.

Of the UK’s eleven core cites, Cardiff experienced the second biggest year-on-year fall at 2.4% – although less than the 4.4% dip in December. The biggest fall, 7.1%, was experienced in Birmingham. The highest increase was in Edinburgh, up 5.5%.

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION

GROWTH RANK

NATION AND REGION

Jan-26

Dec-25

1

Scotland

5.1%

-1.5%

2

Northern Ireland

3.8%

-1.7%

3

Yorkshire and the Humber

1.2%

-4.5%

4

North West England

0.2%

-2.3%

5

London

-1.1%

-0.4%

6

North East England

-1.2%

-5.0%

7

England

-1.4%

-3.1%

8

South West England

-1.7%

-2.9%

9

East Midlands

-1.9%

-3.3%

10

South East England

-2.0%

-4.4%

10

Wales

-2.8%

-3.1%

12

East of England

-3.0%

-4.5%

13

West Midlands

-3.9%

-5.5%

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY

GROWTH RANK

CITY

Jan-26

Dec-25

1

Edinburgh

5.5%

-0.5%

2

Glasgow

4.8%

-1.2%

3

Leeds

4.0%

-6.3%

4

Manchester

1.8%

-0.8%

5

Belfast

1.4%

-2.8%

6

Sheffield

0.6%

-3.1%

7

Bristol

-0.8%

-1.7%

8

Liverpool

-1.0%

-4.5%

9

London

-1.1%

-0.4%

10

Cardiff

-2.4%

-4.4%

11

Birmingham

-7.1%

-8.1%

Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said “January footfall remained below levels seen a year ago, laying bare the deep-rooted challenges facing bricks-and-mortar retail in Wales. Although there was a slight improvement on December, it was far from enough to reverse the damage. Even heavy discounting and widespread promotional activity during the month failed to draw shoppers back to our high streets, showing that retailers cannot discount their way out of these pressures.

“Shopper footfall in Wales has fallen in eight of the past twelve months and the continued downturn is squeezing town and city centres, putting jobs and investment at risk, and steadily draining life from local communities.”

“As political parties finalise their manifestos ahead of the Senedd election, this is a critical moment to decide the future of our high streets. Targeted action – including meaningful reductions in business rates for all stores and clear backing for physical retail – could still stabilise and strengthen town centres. Without that political and policy support, the outcome is clear: more shop closures, more job losses, and high streets left increasingly empty, undermining local economies and the communities that depend on them.”

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant with Sensormatic Solutions, which carried out the research, said:

“January was still a tough month for Wales, with footfall down 2.8% year on year – an improvement on December, but the weakest performance of the devolved nations. Shoppers clearly remain cautious, yet there are signs that value led New Year promotions did tempt some consumers back into stores.

“Storm Goretti added further pressure, disrupting travel and putting an additional brake on visits just as retailers were looking to reset after the golden quarter.

“Even so, the easing in the rate of decline offers a glimmer of optimism. After months of negative figures, retailers in Wales will be hoping that an improvement in January sets the stage for growth as we move into February – and that footfall can finally start to turn the tide.”

For the research footfall is defined as anyone entering a store.

Stellantis is urging owners of roughly 225,000 older vehicles in the U.S. to stop driving them immediately if they have not repaired defective Takata air bags.

The warning applies to certain 2003–2016 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram models previously recalled for faulty air bag inflators that can rupture in a crash, the automaker confirmed to FOX Business in an email.

“This action is intended to accelerate the repair of the remaining affected vehicles to safeguard owners, their families and the general public from the risk of serious injury or death,” Stellantis said. 

The company warned that the chemical propellant inside some Takata air bag inflators can deteriorate over time – especially in hot, humid conditions – increasing the risk of rupture and sending metal fragments into the vehicle cabin.

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The warning applies to certain 2003–2016 Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram models previously recalled for faulty air bag inflators. (Stephanie Lecocq/Reuters)

“If you have one of these vehicles, do not drive it until the repair is completed and the defective air bag is replaced,” the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) said Wednesday.

Affected models include:

• 2007–2009 Chrysler Aspen SUVs
• 2007–2008 Chrysler Crossfire coupes
• 2005–2015 Chrysler 300 sedans
• 2008–2014 Dodge Challenger coupes
• 2003–2016 Dodge Ram pickup trucks and Dodge Sprinter vans
• 2004–2009 Dodge Durango SUVs
• 2005–2012 Dodge Dakota pickup trucks
• 2005–2008 Dodge Magnum station wagons
• 2006–2015 Dodge Charger sedans
• 2007–2016 Jeep Wrangler SUVs

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A 2007 Chrysler Aspen SUV at the North American International Auto show Jan. 10, 2006, in Detroit. (Bryan Mitchell/Getty Images)

Over 6.6 million Takata air bag inflators have been replaced over the course of more than a decade, but roughly 225,000 vehicles in the U.S. remain unrepaired, according to NHTSA.

“This stop-drive directive is focused on completing repairs on this remaining population,” Stellantis said. “Affected customers were notified beginning Feb. 9, and repairs will continue to be performed free of charge.”

NHTSA has linked exploding Takata air bags to 28 deaths and more than 400 injuries in the U.S.

“Even minor crashes can result in exploding Takata air bags that can kill or produce life-altering, gruesome injuries,” the NHTSA said. “Older model year vehicles put their occupants at higher risk, because older air bags are more likely to explode.”

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Over 6.6 million Takata air bag inflators have been replaced over the course of more than a decade. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

More than 100 million vehicles globally, including 67 million in the U.S., have been recalled over the last 10 years because of defective Takata air bag inflators, according to Reuters.

The stop-drive order comes amid a broader wave of auto recalls.

Jaguar Land Rover is recalling nearly 2,300 electric SUVs in the U.S. over concerns that a high-voltage battery could overheat and increase the risk of fire, the NHTSA announced Tuesday.

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Toyota is also recalling about 141,000 Prius and Prius Prime vehicles after discovering that rear doors could unexpectedly open while the car is moving, according to a newly filed report from the Department of Transportation.

FOX Business’ Landon Mion and Bradford Betz contributed to this report.

Our deep dive into Pendle’s “grand narrative” reveals a disconnect: in mature markets, trillion-dollar IRS platforms struggle with unattractive business models due to the bargaining power of institutional players. A high valuation premium based on current “points-driven” volume is, therefore, difficult to sustain.

Market Veteran, Madhusudan Kela from 35 years experience in the market feels investors should only focus on wealth creation and ignore the noise.

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In a lighter moment, when asked what he told his maid — who predicted silver would hit ₹10 lakh — Kela laughed: “Honestly speaking, when she told me, I felt like selling all the silver which we have in the house.”
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“The biggest thing for me has been the real entrepreneurship of Indians,” he said, pointing to their “resilience, perseverance and determination.”

Despite policy shocks and global disruptions, certain companies have multiplied investor wealth many times over. According to Kela, the key is identifying the right leadership. “Am I able to really identify a jockey… who will not get distracted? If you find that, that is the real winning idea.”

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Unless a severe “black swan” event shakes confidence, Kela believes domestic participation will only deepen. “This faith is only going to get built up,” he said, regardless of whether foreign investors are buying or selling.

In a market filled with headlines and hyperactivity, Kela’s message is to block out the noise, trust conviction, and let volatility work in your favour.

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