SRC: Budget gloom leads to bleak Black Friday for Scottish Footfall

Friday, 5 December 2025 00:01

Covering the four weeks 02 - 29 Nov 2025 According to SRC-Sensormatic data: Scottish footfall decreased by 0.3% in November (YoY), down from -0.1% in October. Shopping Centre footfall increased by 0.1% in November (YoY), unchanged from +0.1% in October. Retail Park footfall decreased by 0.8% in November (YoY), down from -0.5% in October. In November, footfall in Edinburgh remained unchanged at 0% (YoY), while footfall in...Request free trial

Covering the four weeks 02 - 29 Nov 2025

According to SRC-Sensormatic data:

Scottish footfall decreased by 0.3% in November (YoY), down from -0.1% in October.

Shopping Centre footfall increased by 0.1% in November (YoY), unchanged from +0.1% in October.

Retail Park footfall decreased by 0.8% in November (YoY), down from -0.5% in October.

In November, footfall in Edinburgh remained unchanged at 0% (YoY), while footfall in Glasgowdecreased by 1.6%.

Ewan MacDonald-Russell, Deputy Head of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said:
“Budget uncertainty seems to have deterred shoppers from Scotland's high streets in November; as footfall to retail destinations fell for the seventh successive month. Despite significant discounting around Black Friday there was little cheer for retailers as nervousness about the economy and wet weather meant town and city centres were marginally quieter than last year's rather weak figures.

“There was little good news amongst the detail – with even Edinburgh only matching last year's performance. Elsewhere retail parks saw a small fall and Glasgow city centre continues to struggle to attract shoppers.

“There is little doubt the prolonged phoney war ahead of the Budget has discouraged early Christmas shopping. With the Chancellor's statement now delivered, retailers will hope shoppers will feel emboldened to commit to festive purchases in the final month of the golden trading quarter. Nonetheless, those businesses will be looking enviously at their English competitors who received a substantial business rates discount in the Budget – and will hope Scottish Ministers will at least match that discount in their own Budget in early 2026.”

Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic Solutions, commented:
“November saw footfall in Scotland dip -0.3% year-on-year, a much softer decline than the UK average and a sign of relative resilience. Black Friday week, however, failed to spark momentum, down -4.9%, as early discounting and economic uncertainty kept shoppers cautious. Overall, Shopping Centres managed a marginal +0.1% uplift, while Retail Parks slipped -0.8%.

“Yet the golden quarter isn't over, and opportunity remains. With four of our predicted Top Five shopping days still ahead, December could deliver the boost retailers need. A last-minute rush may top off the year, turning caution into celebration. With the right mix of value, convenience, and experience, there's still time to make December count.”

MONTHLY TOTAL SCOTTISH RETAIL FOOTFALL (% CHANGE YoY)

UK FOOTFALL BY LOCATION (% CHANGE YOY)

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY NATION AND REGION

GROWTH RANK	NATION AND REGION	Nov-25	Oct-25
1	Northern Ireland	2.7%	-0.2%
2	South West England	1.3%	0.6%
3	London	0.8%	0.1%
4	South East England	-0.2%	-2.5%
5	Scotland	-0.3%	-0.1%
6	Wales	-0.4%	0.6%
7	England	-1.0%	-0.9%
8	North West England	-1.3%	-0.6%
9	Yorkshire and the Humber	-2.1%	-0.9%
10	East of England	-2.3%	-1.8%
11	East Midlands	-2.6%	-2.1%
12	West Midlands	-3.2%	-2.0%
13	North East England	-5.0%	0.7%

TOTAL FOOTFALL BY CITY

GROWTH RANK	CITY	Nov-25	Oct-25
1	Bristol	2.1%	-0.4%
2	Sheffield	2.0%	0.2%
3	Belfast	1.1%	-0.7%
4	London	0.8%	0.1%
5	Manchester	0.5%	1.9%
6	Edinburgh	0.0%	0.7%
7	Glasgow	-1.6%	-1.7%
8	Cardiff	-3.2%	-2.1%
9	Leeds	-4.6%	-1.1%
10	Liverpool	-7.0%	-6.5%
11	Birmingham	-10.0%	-4.0%

-ENDS-

Methodology:
All figures are calculated using precise shopper numbers entering retail stores across the UK, whichever destination they are located.

While High Streets, Shopping Centres and Retail Parks are the main components of the Total Footfall, there are also additional categories not included as separate indices. These include outlets, travel hub locations, and free-standing locations such as garden centres.