Too hot to shop: Footfall declines in July as soaring temperatures keep consumers at home

See more This is Money on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Updated: 02:35 EDT, 7 August 2026 Soaring temperatures in July contributed to a decline in shopper footfall last month, as Britons deemed it too hot to shop. The hot weather contributed to a 2.1 per cent slide in footfall across retail destinations in July, compared to the same month last year.High Streets were hit the hardest with footfall declining 3.8 per cent, while shopping centres fell 1.4 per cent, alongside a 1.2 per cent increase for retail parks, according to data compiled by the British Retail Consortium and researchers Sensormatic.As England and Wales were the driest since records began in 1836, the appetite for retail wilted.But shops fared slightly better than in June, when record-breaking heatwaves saw footfall slide 3.4 per cent.Londoners were especially hesitant to head out, with footfall falling 5.3 per cent compared to last year. Researchers said many opted to avoid travelling on the London Underground, where temperatures have reached 30 degrees and over. Too hot to shop: The number of shoppers declined in July thanks to soaring temperaturesIt piles more pain on the High Street which has already seen retailers such as Claire's Accessories collapse while closures loom at other chains.An inflation shock caused by war in the Middle East has also hurt.Six of the first seven months of 2026 have seen footfall perform worse than the same period last year - underscoring worries over the High Street.The British Retail Consortium (BRC)'s chief executive, Helen Dickinson, said: 'Climate change continues to deliver more and more extreme temperatures in the UK. Retailers are responding by investing in both mitigations – such as more air conditioning and more efficient refrigeration units – and in sustainability initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions.'She said she wanted Andy Burnham to take a look at how to make the business rates system fairer for shops, to help retailers afford investments.The new Prime Minister has already announced a discount on the commercial property tax for pubs.But Dickinson added: 'Unfortunately, business rates often punish stores for such investments, showing the need for government to look again at this broken system.'Andy Sumpter, head of consulting and analytics for Sensormatic, said: 'The exceptionally hot and historically dry weather is likely to have been a significant factor, discouraging shopping trips and particularly impacting High Streets.'While the UK has yet another new Prime Minister, retail is yet to experience any meaningful 'Burnham Bounce'. For retailers, the focus remains on converting these more selective visits into meaningful spend as the summer progresses.'DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you