The Welsh Retail Consortium has released footfall figures for June
Shoppers.(Image: Mark Lewis)
Welsh retail footfall fell in June but not as steeply as May shows new research from the Welsh Retail Consortium.
Year-on-year the number of shoppers on the high street, retail parks and shopping centres was down 2.3% on June last year – compared to a 5% fall in May.
England experienced a 4.3% fall and Northern Ireland 0.9%. The only UK nation or region to experience a rise in footfall was Scotland, up 1.7%. The biggest year-on-year decline was in London, down 6.8%.
Of the 11 core UK cities the biggest fall was in Liverpool, down 9%, while Glasgow was up 6.1%. The only other city to experience a rise was Manchester, with 1%. Year-on-year footfall in Cardiff declined by 3.9%, although an improvement on the 6.9% fall in May.
Welsh shopping centre footfall decreased by 3.5% in June with retail park footfall decreasing by 0.9%.
Sara Jones, head of the Welsh Retail Consortium, said; “June brought some much-needed relief for Welsh retail destinations, with the pace of footfall decline easing after a difficult May. Welsh footfall was down 2.3% year-on-year, compared with a 5.0% fall the previous month.
“Warmer weather, events, and the start of the summer trading period encouraged more shoppers back onto high streets and into retail destinations, but this is recovery is in fragile form, not a full rebound.
“The direction of travel is better, but shopper numbers remain down year on year and retailers are under relentless pressure from rising costs and squeezed household budgets. If Wales wants thriving town and city centres, retail needs action, not warm words: lower cost burdens, stronger investment support, better high street access, and a clear plan.
“With the new Welsh Government’s encouraging commitment to a town centre task force, retailers are ready to work with decision makers, but their voices must be heard and real change must follow. We now look forward to seeing how government turns that commitment into progress over the coming months.”
FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION
GROWTH RANK
NATION AND REGION
Jun-26
May-26
1
Scotland
1.7%
0.4%
2
Northern Ireland
-0.9%
-1.0%
3
North East England
-1.3%
-3.4%
4
North West England
-2.2%
-5.0%
5
Wales
-2.3%
-5.0%
6
Yorkshire and the Humber
-2.4%
-3.7%
6
East of England
-3.1%
-1.5%
8
West Midlands
-3.8%
-2.5%
9
East Midlands
-4.1%
-3.0%
10
South West England
-4.1%
-5.3%
11
England
-4.3%
-3.0%
11
South East England
-5.9%
-4.4%
13
London
-6.8%
0.0%
TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY
GROWTH RANK
CITY
Jun-26
May-26
1
Glasgow
6.1%
-0.6%
2
Manchester
1.0%
-3.3%
3
Edinburgh
0.0%
2.5%
4
Sheffield
0.0%
-1.8%
5
Belfast
-1.9%
0.1%
6
Leeds
-2.8%
-2.8%
7
Bristol
-2.9%
-3.3%
8
Cardiff
-3.9%
-6.9%
8
Birmingham
-4.1%
-1.6%
10
London
-6.8%
0.0%
11
Liverpool
-9.0%
-9.4%
Andy Sumpter, retail consultant with Sensormatic, which conducted the research, said: “June saw an improved performance for Welsh retail, with footfall down 2.3% year-on-year, marking the second strongest month of 2026 so far. As we pass the halfway point of the year, this brings the year-to-date figure to -4.4%, highlighting that while challenges remain, there are signs of stabilisation compared to earlier in the year.
“As elsewhere in the UK, exceptionally high temperatures are likely to have influenced behaviour. Wales recorded its hottest June day on record, which may have discouraged shopping trips and shifted activity towards leisure or local destinations. At the same time, consumer confidence is improving slightly but remains subdued, with wider uncertainty continuing to weigh on discretionary spend.
“Shopping patterns also reflect a more cautious and deliberate consumer. While fewer trips are being made overall, those that do take place appear more purposeful. As we move into the second half of the year, retailers will be looking to build on June’s relative improvement by converting more deliberate visits into meaningful spend.”
For the survey footfall is defined by anyone entering a shop.
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