Key stat: Foot traffic to indoor malls surged 6.3% YoY in May, outpacing outlet malls (3.5%) and open-air shopping centers (4.7%), according to a September report from Placer.ai.

Beyond the chart:

• Global ecommerce sales will grow 5.9% in 2029, just 2.2 points higher than physical retail (3.7%), a much narrower margin than during the pandemic surge, according to our July 2025 forecast.
• Over 7 in 10 (73.5%) US consumers at least sometimes check prices or inventory online before visiting a store, as detailed in May 2025 data from Locala and EMARKETER.

Use this chart: Retail marketers and property managers can use this chart as justification to concentrate promotions during high-traffic months to maximize ROI, reinvigorate outlet mall appeal with exclusive events or discounts to reverse traffic declines, and tailor tenant mixes in open-air centers to maintain footfall with more essential services or dining.

Related EMARKETER reports:

• Worldwide Retail and Ecommerce Forecast 2025 Midyear Edition (EMARKETER subscription required)
• In-Store Retail Media 2025 (EMARKETER subscription required)

Methodology: Data is from the September 2025 Placer.ai report titled "August 2025 Mall Index: Is Consumer Caution Weighing on Mall Performance?" Placer.ai analyzes 1.5+ billion monthly visitors across 20 million devices, 13+ million venues, thousands of segments, and 500+ mobile apps. Placer.ai is a location analytics and foot traffic data company.