Post-Christmas ray of hope after Scottish retail sector sees footfall stumble in December

Overall, total footfall last year was down 1.5 per cent, compared to 2024, according to the latest figures from the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) and Sensormatic Solutions. There was a similar year-on-year decline registered in December.

Shopping centre footfall decreased by 1.5 per cent last month, while retail park visits dipped 0.8 per cent. In December, footfall in Edinburgh was down 0.5 per cent, while footfall in Glasgow fell by 1.2 per cent.

The figures come just days after two of Glasgow’s largest out-of-town shopping destinations hailed record annual numbers. The Silverburn shopping centre and Glasgow Fort retail park, which comprises large and small store units and an array of restaurants, both saw record numbers of visitors during the course of 2025.

SRC director David Lonsdale said: “Visits to Scottish stores dipped in December compared to the same period the year before and slipped further compared to the past couple of months. It rounded off a pretty drab ‘golden quarter’ and 2025 as a whole for shopper foot-traffic.

“That said the month ended on a more positive note in the days after Christmas as discounting and promotions gave a fillip to foot-traffic, reinforcing just how sensitive to price and value consumers are currently. Across the month as a whole footfall was feeble across all destinations including the major cities, shopping centres, and retail parks.

“We await the publication of our sales monitor later this month to see what it meant for actual retail sales as there is rarely an exact correlation with footfall.”

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Andy Sumpter, a retail consultant for Sensormatic Solutions, added: “Retail hasn’t necessarily got harder; it’s just become less forgiving - from shifting consumer demand to rising cost-bases across labour and business rates reform. This means retailers must break the cycle where cost-cutting impedes investment in the capabilities and services needed for sustainable growth.

“Yet, despite the challenges, there are still pockets of demand to be tapped. Shopper traffic rallied outside traditional peak days, showing festive buying patterns are changing - and those who adapt quickly will be best placed to capture these new opportunities.”