As the Autumn Budget edges ever closer are UK consumers becoming nervy? If September shopper footfall is anything to go by, then yes.

Total retail visits took a hit across September as the five-week reporting period (31 August-04 October) dipped 1.8% year-on-year and down 0.4% from August, according to British Retail Consortium/Sensormatic’s latest figures.

Looking closer, Retail Parks continued to show resilience at -0.8%, while High Streets and Shopping Centres dipped -2.5% and -2% respectively.

Sensormatic said the month began with a modest uplift, driven by Back-to-School shopping, but momentum was quickly disrupted. London’s Tube strikes mid-month and Storm Amy at the end brought widespread disruption, impacting shopper activity nationwide.

Footfall also fell year-on-year across all nations again: down 0.5% in Northern Ireland, 1.8% in England, 2.3% in Scotland, and the largest decrease of 2.5% in Wales.

BRC chief exec Helen Dickinson said: “Low consumer confidence ahead of a potential tax-rising Budget kept many shoppers away from retail locations in September.

“Tube strikes in London, heavy rainfall in the first half of September and Storm Amy towards the end of the month exacerbated the decline. While August saw stronger growth in high street footfall, September saw high streets back as the weakest performer across all retail locations.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, said: “[Negative] events compounded an already cautious consumer mood, with many still navigating cost pressures and economic uncertainty. Retailers will now be hoping that September’s slowdown was less a sign of retreat, and more a pause for thought.

“As we move into Q4, the opportunity lies in converting that caution into confidence—especially for those who can deliver value, experience, and convenience in equal measure. While not easy, it is essential.”