Scotland may be out of the World Cup, but the tournament has led to increased footfall in the country’s retail outlets.
Scottish footfall increased by 1.7% in June (YoY), up from 0.4% in May, according to Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC)-Sensormatic data covering the four weeks 31 May – 05 July 2026.
Shopping centre footfall increased by 0.5% in June (YoY), down from 1.3% in May, while retail park footfall increased by 10.8% in June (YoY), up from 1.5% in May.
In June, footfall in Edinburgh remained unchanged at 0% (YoY), while footfall in Glasgow increased by 6.1%.
David Lonsdale, Director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said:
“Shopper foot-traffic increased for a second consecutive month in June, with Scotland the only nation or region of the UK to record growth during the period – encouraging coming against a backdrop of subdued consumer confidence and elevated petrol pump prices following the Iran conflict. This positive trend was particularly strong in the lead-up to Scotland’s first and second World Cup matches, likely reflecting increased spending on food, drink and related merchandise. Glasgow emerged as the highest-performing city in the UK, supported in part by the further gradual reopening of pedestrian areas in the city centre following the Union Corner fire in March.
“Retailers in the city will be hoping the imminent start to the Commonwealth Games will provide a further boost to footfall and consumer spending. Retailers will also be looking to the likely incoming Prime Minister, Andy Burnham, to begin to make good on his pledge of a high street ‘renaissance’. Our retail destinations can be a springboard to help the wider economy bounce back; however, to achieve this, they need to become more cost-effective and desirable locations for retailers of all sizes to invest in.”
Andy Sumpter, Retail Consultant EMEA for Sensormatic, said:
“June delivered a positive result for Scottish retail, with footfall up 1.7% year-on-year, marking an improvement on May and the strongest performance of all the devolved nations. This also represents one of Scotland’s better months so far in 2026, offering a more encouraging signal as we pass the halfway point of the year.
“While Scotland also experienced high temperatures, recording its warmest day of the year at 29°C, conditions were less extreme than further south and may have been less disruptive to shopper activity. Major events also played a role, with international football fixtures earlier in the month likely having an impact on footfall, while strong city performances – including Glasgow, which is preparing to host the Commonwealth Games – helped support overall results.
“Despite June’s positive outcome, underlying consumer behaviour remains cautious. While confidence is improving slightly, it is still subdued. As we move into the second half of the year, the focus for retailers will be on sustaining this momentum and converting footfall into meaningful spend.”
