US shopping malls see renaissance in foot traffic | Retail News USA

The newest industry data indicates that foot traffic at US shopping malls performed well in November, suggesting a possible comeback for brick-and-mortar retail that might last throughout the December shopping season.

Placer.ai reports that indoor shopping centres saw a 6.4 percent increase in visitors year over year, making the rejuvenation especially remarkable. Additionally resilient were outdoor shopping centres and outlet malls, which saw traffic increases of 4.8 and 3.8 percent, respectively.

According to the statistics, malls are seeing increased visitor interaction in the week before Black Friday, indicating that customer behaviour is going beyond digital purchasing tendencies.

All mall formats outperformed last year, making Black Friday weekend the most important shopping time. A symbolic victory for physical shopping, indoor malls and outdoor centres not only reached 2023 figures but also pre-pandemic visiting levels.

The subtle move towards experience shopping will be of particular interest to watchers in the fashion sector. The data suggests that customers are looking for more than just transactional experiences; they are yearning for the social and tactile aspects of physical retail that are impossible to recreate on the internet.

These November trends suggest a possibly thriving Christmas retail environment as we enter the crucial December shopping season. Retailers, brands, and designers will be closely monitoring if this momentum continues into the holiday season.

According to the research, even while online shopping is still on the rise, there is still a strong appeal to exploring a well-curated mall, seeing things up close, and taking in the ambient spectacle of holiday shopping.