Heatwave Keeps Shoppers Home as UK Retail Struggles

Britain's shops had a tough July as a heatwave kept many people away from stores. New data shows that the number of shoppers visiting UK retail locations fell by 2.1% compared to the same time last year. High streets were hit the hardest, though the numbers were slightly better than in June. The figures come from a report by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and a data company called Sensormatic.

London saw one of the biggest drops, with 5.3% fewer shoppers than last year. Experts say the extreme heat made travelling on the underground and trains very uncomfortable, so some people chose to stay home instead of going out to shop. England as a whole had the weakest performance of any part of the UK, with an overall drop of 3% in shoppers. Shopping centres also saw fewer visitors, falling by 1.4% compared to the year before.

Helen Dickinson, the chief executive of the BRC, said the hot weather was a key reason why fewer people visited stores. She noted that while July's figures were still bad, they were an improvement on June, when record-breaking sunshine caused an even bigger fall in shoppers. Dickinson also said that climate change is bringing more and more extreme temperatures to the UK, and retailers are trying to respond. Shops are investing in things like better air conditioning and more efficient refrigerators to cope with the heat.

Dickinson also raised concerns about a tax system called business rates. She said these taxes often punish shops for making green improvements, like installing air conditioning or better refrigeration. She called on the government to fix what she described as a 'broken system.' Retailers feel it is unfair to be taxed more for trying to do the right thing for the environment.

Andy Sumpter from Sensormatic pointed out that six of the first seven months of 2026 have been worse for shops than the same months last year. He said the unusually hot and dry weather was likely a major reason why people were making fewer shopping trips. Sumpter also mentioned that even though the UK has a new prime minister, there has been no 'Burnham bounce' — meaning shoppers have not been inspired to spend more money because of the change in leadership. Retailers are now focused on making the most of the shoppers who do come in, hoping to turn each visit into a sale.

The weather is expected to change a little, with some thundery showers arriving in parts of the country. However, southern England may miss out on most of the rain and could face another heatwave soon. The Met Office said temperatures would be cooler on Thursday after a hot start to the week, but there would be a clear difference between conditions in the north and south. Britain's farmers are also struggling, with experts warning that the 2026 harvest could be the worst on record because of the extreme summer weather.