Week 7 2025 Major Retail Centres Footfall Data

UK Major Retail Centres footfall retail data shows a modest 1.6% rise, drawing shoppers back to high streets.

UK Major Retail Centres have recorded a steady rise in footfall, as revealed by detailed footfall analytics for the week ending 23 February 2025, with an overall average daily figure of 72,900. The data indicates a modest week‐on‐week increase of 1.6% and an 11% increase compared with the same week last year, reflecting a cautiously optimistic recovery as shoppers return to high streets.

Regional Breakdown

Breaking the footfall statistics down regionally, centres in England observed an average daily footfall of 72,300, registering a healthy week‐on‐week rise of 2.4% alongside a nearly similar year‐on‐year improvement of 9.7%. In Wales, the daily average stands at 61,200, with a positive weekly lift of 10.3% and a sharp increase compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, centres in Northern Ireland recorded a higher daily average of 96,700 with a recent decline of 10.4%, although year‐on‐year performance shows a sharp increase in shoppers, and Scottish centres, averaging 82,200 visitors per day, experienced a modest week‐on‐week decline of 5.8% with a solid year‐on‐year increase of 7.8%.

Consumer Dwell Times

Alongside footfall, dwell time data further underscore evolving consumer behaviours. Across all centres, visitors spent an average of 112 minutes per visit. In England, the duration remained steady at 112 minutes, recording incremental week‐on‐week and year‐on‐year increases of 1.8% and 10.9% respectively.

Centres in Wales recorded an average visit duration of 99 minutes, with a week‐on‐week increase of 15.1%, despite softer annual performance. Northern Ireland centres averaged 100 minutes per visit, though both the latest week’s duration and the year‐on‐year trend exhibit a slight decline. Scottish centres demonstrated resilience with an average visit time of 124 minutes; even though the previous week saw a 9.5% decrease, the annual trend shows a sharp increase.

Retail Industry Developments

Recent retail industry developments provide further context to these footfall retail trends, with a huge fashion brand set to open a new Birmingham store at The Fort shopping centre as reported by MSN, marking a significant shift in that market sector. Concurrently, a major fashion retailer has announced plans to axe 35 stores in the coming days, while a report from Yahoo News UK warns of potential job cuts at a high street chain in Greater Manchester. Further disruptions have been flagged by store closures with chains such as Iceland and Superdry, indicating that the sector is recalibrating amidst evolving consumer and economic dynamics.

Economic and Weather Conditions

UK economic indicators add to the overall picture, with consumer confidence dipping to new lows as rising costs continue to bite, according to Grocery Gazette. Discussions are ongoing on whether rising wages will translate into increased consumer spending, as featured in Retail Week, while additional data from Investment Week, Investing.com UK, and Business Matters highlight subdued retail sales and ongoing challenges within major shopping hubs. Weather conditions played a role too, with parts of northern England experiencing freezing rain and snow, as noted by Manchester Evening News, and with substantial snowfall posing challenges reported by Birmingham Live.

Expert Comment & Conclusion

Joe Capocci, spokesperson for Huq Industries, commented, “The latest data reflects a cautious uplift in consumer activity as observed in footfall counting across major retail centres in the UK.” Although regional variances continue to emerge, these results provide encouraging signals as retailers adjust to a landscape shaped by economic pressures and evolving consumer habits. In conclusion, the recent footfall and dwell time data illustrate a mixed yet generally positive picture for UK retail centres, with regional insights amid economic and weather challenges demonstrating promising signs as shoppers begin to return.

About Huq Industries

Huq Industries is the leading provider of location intelligence across the UK, Europe, and the Middle East, specialising in delivering high-quality data insights on footfall, consumer behaviour, and retail performance. By leveraging advanced analytics and an expansive data network, Huq Industries enables retailers and analysts to understand and respond to market trends effectively, ensuring they are well-equipped to navigate the changing landscape of high street and town centre commerce.