Shopping malls heading south
The Guardian report that some of the UK’s biggest shopping malls – those powerful, town-destroying magnets of consumerism – are finding the going tough as consumers respond to high fuel prices by staying at home.
With a business strategy built on customers having unlimited access to cheap personal transport, it’s unlikely that any planning would have taken into account the certainty that prices would go up. If they’re experiencing a 9-14% drop in sales with oil prices hovering at around $120 a barrel, it’s going to be interesting to watch what happens when the price goes up 30% or more on those prices. Maybe our town centres will regain some of their vibrancy as people travel on foot again.
Out-of-town shopping malls suffer as fuel price deters shoppers | Business | The Guardian.
