Big Box Retail & Malls
Retail is changing fast, but one thing hasn’t gone away: the importance of retail location intelligence. Knowing how people move through your store, when they visit and why they stay gives you the edge in a competitive market. Recent numbers from 2024 and 2025 show the state of consumer visits across categories and they tell a very clear story for business owners.
Below, we break down the 13 key statistics from this year, what they mean and how you can act on them with tools like wayfinding, asset tracking, personnel monitoring and geofencing.
1. U.S. Retail Foot Traffic Rose 0.4% in 2024
Overall foot traffic grew slightly, up 0.4% year-over-year. This may not sound like much, but it proves that in-person shopping remains steady. Facility owners should not only count visits but also use retail analytics foot traffic systems to measure patterns inside stores. That’s where the real opportunity lies.
2. Target Traffic Fell 3.8% in July 2025
Target saw a 3.8% decline in July, marking six straight months of lower visits. This shows that even large, trusted brands face challenges. Managers can use real-time foot traffic metrics in retail to spot early declines and respond with promotions, better layouts or staff adjustments before losses drag on for months.
3. Discount and Dollar Stores Gained Only 1.3%
In 2024, discount and dollar stores saw a small 1.3% bump in traffic, below the sector average. While low prices bring in shoppers, slow growth means value alone isn’t enough. AI-powered retail foot traffic analytics can reveal where these stores lose visitors and how operational improvements—like faster checkout or better wayfinding—keep shoppers around longer.
4. Grocery Stores Rose 2.27% With Over 1 Million Visits
Grocery remains strong, with 2.27% more traffic and more than a million community visits in 2024. These visits are routine and reliable, but stores can increase basket size with smart layouts and targeted promotions. Location intelligence for retail traffic helps managers see which aisles get more dwell time and which need attention.
5. Retail Rents Are Up 20%–40%
Leases in high-traffic areas are now 20%–40% higher than before the pandemic. When costs rise this much, retailers can’t afford wasted space. Using geofencing and asset tracking helps prove every square foot’s performance by showing how traffic interacts with displays and departments.
6. Retail Sales Rose 4.3% in July 2025
Sales were up 4.3% YoY, boosted by Prime Day, July 4th and early back-to-school spending. This proves promotions work, but only if stores are ready for the surge. With retail foot traffic data insights, owners can staff up during peak hours and avoid long lines that push customers out the door.
7. Retail Volume Growth Was Only 1.4%
Although sales rose, volume was up just 1.4%. That means much of the growth came from higher prices or deals pulling forward future spending. To keep steady demand, managers can use personnel monitoring and traffic analytics to identify quiet periods and schedule smaller, localized events to bring shoppers back.
8. Furniture and Home Stores Saw a 2.75% Traffic Boost
This sector had a 5.8% sales lift and 2.75% more visits in July. Promotions clearly worked, but the traffic increase was moderate. AI-powered retail foot traffic analytics helps owners see which promotions drive real visits and which ones only inflate short-term numbers.
9. Apparel Stores Gained 3.93% in Foot Traffic
Apparel stores had one of the strongest gains, with nearly 4% more visits alongside a 7.4% sales bump. Value-driven shopping is driving this trend. Facility owners can maximize it by using real-time foot traffic metrics in retail to highlight popular sections and speed up wayfinding for seasonal or discounted goods.
10. Electronics Stores Dropped 1.23% in Traffic
Despite promotional deals, electronics stores lost 1.23% visitors and saw lower sales. Consumers remain cautious with big-ticket spending. Facility managers here benefit from location intelligence for retail traffic that pinpoints underperforming zones so they can refine displays, adjust layouts or move promotions closer to entrances.
11. Home Improvement Stores Fell 0.35% in July
This small decline of 0.35% shows softness in the category. While it’s not a huge drop, even small changes matter when rents are higher. Owners can use geofencing alerts to track which areas (like seasonal aisles) lose engagement and guide staff to support shoppers in real time.
12. Theatres and Music Venues Saw 5.82% Less Foot Traffic
Experience-based retail segments lost nearly 6% of visits, but dwell times stayed high at 146 minutes. People who attend still stay engaged. Retailers can learn from this—sometimes fewer visits can still mean high value if shoppers spend more time inside. Retail analytics foot traffic systems show which zones hold attention longest.
13. Restaurant Visits Rose Just 0.23%
Restaurants saw a slight 0.23% increase in visits, showing steady but modest demand as household budgets remain tight. Small improvements in service speed and seating flow—measured by AI-powered retail foot traffic analytics—can make the difference between repeat customers and one-time visitors.
What These 2025 Stats Mean for Retailers
Taken together, these stats show steady overall traffic, but not all categories share the gains. Apparel and grocery are strong, electronics and home improvement are soft and rents keep climbing. For retail facility owners, this means every visit matters more than ever.
With tools like wayfinding, personnel monitoring, asset tracking and geofencing, retail location intelligence turns raw numbers into actions that improve sales, reduce waste and deliver a better shopper experience.
Conclusion
2025 retail traffic is not uniform at all. The winners are those who actually act on real‑time foot traffic metrics retail they possess and not just accumulate it. With retail location intelligence, each store visit can be something valuable for the long term.
If you found this blog helpful, please read our blog on How to Scale Up Your Retail Store Sales by Increasing Footfall in 2025? or watch our video on Mapsted Location-Based Solutions For Big Box Retail | Mapsted Technologies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. Why should I care about retail foot traffic if my sales look fine?
Ans. Because sales don’t tell you the whole story. Foot traffic data shows how many people walk in, where they go and how long they stay. If traffic drops and you don’t notice, sales may follow.
Q2. What is retail location intelligence in simple words?
Ans. It’s using data to understand how people move inside your store. It covers wayfinding, staff coverage, asset tracking and geofencing to make every visit smoother and more productive.
Q3. How can real-time foot traffic metrics help me day-to-day?
Ans. They help you match staffing with peak hours, reduce checkout lines and spot quiet areas that need attention. It’s about reacting quickly instead of waiting until sales slip.
Q4. Do smaller stores need foot traffic analytics too?
Ans. Yes. Even small retailers benefit. Knowing when customers come in and which shelves get attention helps make better use of limited space and staff.
Q5. Is AI-powered retail foot traffic analytics expensive?
Ans. Not necessarily. Many solutions scale to fit the size of your store. Think of it as an investment—better traffic insights often save money by cutting waste and improving customer service.
