Articles

Black Friday still draws about 4% of Q4 visits for department stores, electronics and apparel. See which categories are best positioned this year.

Planet Fitness visits rose 6.7% year over year in Q3. See where same-store traffic grew and which region lagged.

McDonald’s October promotions drove its busiest weeks of 2026, even as visits trailed last year. See how gas prices shaped traffic.

CAVA’s Q3 visits climbed 16.3% YoY as the chain kept expanding. Find out how Portillo’s returned to same-store growth on a very different schedule.

Denny’s and IHOP narrowed their visit declines in Q3 2026 while Waffle House kept growing. See the strength each legacy breakfast chain can build on.

Taco Bell visits fell 10.1% YoY in Q3 2026 after the cyclospora outbreak. See how quickly the chain bounced back, and how KFC and Habit did.

Casual dining visits rose just 0.2% in Q3 2026, yet four chains posted strong growth. Find out what each is getting right.

Luxury high-street corridors experienced their busiest summers in four years in 2026. Find out how holiday crowds are set to reshape their audience.

TJX saw strong Q2 2025 performance, exceeding company guidance. HomeGoods led same-store visit growth, while the newest brands, Sierra and Homesense, drove overall traffic increases. The company is also successfully penetrating rural and semi-rural markets, creating a path for continued domestic growth.

Economic uncertainty and rising prices are causing consumers to pull back on discretionary travel, opting for shorter, regional "micro-cations." This shift is reshaping the traditional summer vacation, leading to less driving and flying, a trend visible in gas station and airport traffic data. This cautious consumer behavior is expected to influence the broader retail and travel landscapes for the remainder of 2025.

Placer.ai's July 2025 Mall Index shows indoor malls grew 1.3% YoY. Promotional events drove mid-month spikes, but not sustained growth. A spotlight on Boise Towne Square reveals how anchor tenants like In-N-Out can create a powerful halo effect. This report offers key insights for retail and real estate executives.

The first half of 2025 shows a bifurcated retail market. While foot traffic is up for experiences and value brands, it lags for discretionary items. This is driving leasing momentum in prime locations, even as overall retail sales are propped up by high-income households.