Attendance in Russian shopping centers in January-September 2026 decreased by 2.8%. In Moscow, the flow of buyers decreased by 2.9%, in St. Petersburg - by 4.1%. The northern capital is losing visitors faster than the country's market as a whole. Experts attribute the decline to consumer caution: Russians try to save money and give up some spontaneous purchases. Fuel shortages in the summer also affected attendance. This reduces the chance of turning a casual visit into a purchase. The situation is complicated by the lack of workers in retail. The weakening flow coincides with personnel constraints, which make it difficult to maintain the normal level of service. Market participants do not expect sales in November to reverse the trend. Even a temporary influx of visitors does not eliminate the reasons for the decline: the desire to cut costs and make unplanned purchases less frequently. Therefore, the autumn promotions can provide only a short-term revival against a nine-month decline in traffic.

Attendance in Russian shopping centers in January-September 2026 decreased by 2.8%. In Moscow, the flow of buyers decreased by 2.9%, in St. Petersburg - by 4.1%. The northern capital is losing visitors faster than the country's market as a whole. Experts attribute the decline to consumer caution: Russians try to save money and give up some spontaneous purchases. Fuel shortages in the summer also affected attendance. This reduces the chance of turning a casual visit into a purchase. The situation is complicated by the lack of workers in retail. The weakening flow coincides with personnel constraints, which make it difficult to maintain the normal level of service. Market participants do not expect sales in November to reverse the trend. Even a temporary influx of visitors does not eliminate the reasons for the decline: the desire to cut costs and make unplanned purchases less frequently. Therefore, the autumn promotions can provide only a short-term revival against a nine-month decline in traffic.