Retail footfall in the UK falls in May overall, even though early-month sunny weather draws shoppers outdoors and into stores. Multiple outlets report that conditions are mixed: warmer, settled weather near the start of May boosts activity, but a run of record or unusually high temperatures later in the month shifts consumer behaviour away from retail environments. As the heat rises towards the end of May, footfall declines, leading to an overall reduction for the month. One report cites a 2.6% fall in UK footfall across the month, reflecting the net impact of the late-month temperature spike outweighing earlier gains. The reporting frames the change as a temperature-driven pattern rather than a response to specific retail promotions or closures. Overall, the coverage describes a clear contrast within the same month—initial encouragement from good weather followed by weaker shopping traffic as extreme heat reduces footfall.