Low consumer confidence ahead of a potential tax-rising Budget kept many shoppers away from retail locations in September, according to latest figures.
Tube strikes in London, heavy rainfall in the first half of September and Storm Amy towards the end of the month exacerbated the decline, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) said.
Total UK footfall was down by 1.8% in September on a year ago, significantly more than the 0.4% decline registered in August, BRC-Sensormatic data shows.
High street footfall decreased by 2.5% year on year in September while visits to retail parks and shopping centres were down 0.8% and 2% respectively.
Footfall 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.