Welsh retailers report a fall in shoppers

The Welsh Retail Consortium said footfall combined in March and April was down on the same period in 2025

Welsh retailers experienced a sharp fall in shoppers in April, new figures from the Welsh Retail Consortium show. Retailers, across the high street, shopping centres and retail parks, said that footfall was down 13.8% year on year, following a year-on-year rise in March of 1.6%.

The fall in April was impacted by Easter this year falling in March. A more meaningful measure shows that footfall in April and March was down 5.8% year on year.

In April shopping centre footfall decreased by 12.1% year-on-year with retail park footfall down 12%.

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In April all nations and regions of the UK were down on a year earlier. Wales has the second biggest decline, ahead of Northern Ireland which suffered a fall of 14.3%. The shallowest fall was in Scotland, down 5.2%. England was down 11.3%.

Cardiff footfall declined 11.1%. Of the 11 core UK cities assessed, the fall was only greater in Belfast, down 15.5% and Liverpool, down 18%. The shallowest fall was in Edinburgh, down 3.8%.

Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said “Footfall across Wales fell by 5.8% in March and April combined, compared with the same period in 2025, even after adjusting for the timing of Easter to ensure a like-for-like comparison.

“The figures point to a clear mood of caution among consumers, with fewer trips to retail destinations as households continue to feel the squeeze of higher living costs and weaker confidence.

“Even when seasonal distortions are smoothed out, the picture remains the same: a subdued and difficult start to the spring trading period.

“In the wake of the recent Senedd election, attention now turns to how quickly the new parliament can help turn things around for Wales’ struggling high streets.

“At the heart of that challenge is addressing the business rates system which is increasingly out of step with reality.

“The burden on bricks-and-mortar stores continues to act as a major brake on recovery.

“Retailers need the ability to survive, invest, and evolve – not simply absorb rising overheads.

“Easing the business rates burden would unlock vital capacity for investment in staff, store experience, and local communities, helping to breathe life back into town centres and restore the pull of the Welsh high street.”

Andy Sumpter, retail consultant for Sensormatic Solutions, which conducted the research, said: “April delivered a stark reminder of the pressures facing retail footfall in Wales.

“Total retail visits fell 13.8% year-on-year, marking the weakest performance in over five years.

“While deeply disappointing, the scale of the decline needs to be viewed in context. Easter fell earlier this year, drawing a significant volume of activity into March and leaving April with a much tougher comparison. Even when viewed across the two months, the picture remains challenging.

“Combined, March and April footfall in Wales was down minus 5.8%, the weakest result of the devolved nations.

“With consumer confidence falling and cost-of-living pressures persisting, shoppers are becoming more selective – making fewer trips, but with clearer intent when they do.

“In a month where even a ‘good’ result would likely have remained negative, it’s difficult not to be disappointed.

“That said, opportunity remains. Those who are out and about are often there to spend, making every shopper more valuable.

“After the country headed to the polls, retailers would do well to remember that shoppers will continue to vote with their feet – and winning their custom will depend on delivering value, relevance and good reasons to return.”