The number of shoppers visiting the High Street fell by 6.2 per cent in June compared with the same month last year due to the exceptionally high temperatures, according to new data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC).

According to the retail organisation, England saw the biggest drop in footfall at three per cent, where record heat and travel disruption made shopping trips less appealing.

In Scotland, which was less affected by the weather, footfall rose by 1.7 per cent compared to the same period last year.

Indoor shopping centres, which are more likely to have air conditioning, were more resilient and saw footfall decrease by 2.5 per cent, down from –2.4 per cent in May.

Retail parks also saw sustained levels of footfall, falling by only 0.3 per cent in June, a rise from –0.5 the previous month.

Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the BRC, said the record heatwave had kept many shoppers indoors and cautious customers are now making fewer, more considered, shopping trips.

“The heatwave may have affected footfall, but retailers face a bigger challenge: rising costs,” she added. “Businesses are working hard to deliver value for customers, yet higher taxes and regulatory burdens are making it harder to invest, create jobs and grow,”

“Government action on business rates and energy costs would help unlock investment to revive our local communities.”

Joe Squire, marketing director at Epos Now, said that the figures show just how quickly consumer demand can change. Instead of planning ahead, shoppers are expecting shops to have relevant items available which increases pressure for retailers.

"BRC’s June 2026 retail figures show that it's no longer enough for businesses to simply prepare for the summer season by anticipating steady sales throughout the period, they need to prepare for sudden surges in demand for specific products,” he added.

“Whether it's a week with hotter temperatures than normal, a major sporting event uplifting demand for TVs, or the start of the school holidays, retailers are increasingly seeing consumer spending compressed into shorter, more intense peaks in response to these short-term events.”

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