Retailers Saw More Foot Traffic Last Year. But What Does That Say About 2025? [Video]

Retailers saw slightly more foot traffic in 2024 than 2023, according to Placer.ai, with shoppers turning toward grocery chains and superstores in the second half of the year.

Stores had 0.4% more visits in 2024 than in 2023, according to Placer.ai, which tracks foot traffic. Over the course of the year, traffic favored discount and dollar stores and waned at specialty retailers. But as consumer sentiment picked up over the course of last year, trends shifted in favor of stores frequented by higher-income shoppers and those looking for furniture and other discretionary items, Placer.ai said.

Overall, spending remained strong in 2024 despite consumer confidence flagging for much of the year, the National Retail Federation said. A recent rebound in sentiment has the group optimistic about 2025; Placer.ai, meanwhile, believes that cooling inflation could also sustain retailers this year.

“There is good reason to expect healthy economic growth,” said Jack Kleinhenz, …