Compared to the first half of 2021, sales are 25.8% higher and foot traffic is 20.4% higher.
The sector of shopping centers and parks in Spain confirms its recovery. In the first half of 2022, the sales registered in the same period of 2019, before the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, have been reached. Although the centers still do not have the influx of that year.
According to data from the Spanish Association of Shopping Centers and Parks (AECC), in the first six months of the year the shopping centers and parks in our country have managed to reach pre-pandemic sales levels. This has not happened with the influx, still 17.5% below that registered in 2019.
Compared to the first half of 2021, sales are 25.8% higher and inflow is 20.4% higher.
If sales are analyzed by activity, in fashion and accessories there have been 7% more transactions compared to 2019. In home equipment, 32.1% more. Restoration also shows positive figures by raising sales in 2019 by 3.1%. Compared to the first six months of last year, the increase in sales is 56.6% in restoration; 14.7% in household equipment and 36.2% in fashion and accessories.
Regarding investment, 16 operations have been carried out during the semester, with a total volume of more than 1,000 million euros. The operations of retail parks and portfolios of supermarkets and hypermarkets have continued, and transactions in shopping centers such as Torrecárdenas or Finestrelles stand out.
Another important aspect in terms of investment are the reforms and renovations, which throughout 2022 are expected to reach at least 23 shopping centers and parks, totaling nearly one million square meters of surface area.
"Despite the complicated economic context that we are experiencing, the sector continues to show great strength and the recovery that began in 2021 is confirmed. We are confident that the growth path will be maintained in the second half of the year and that we can jointly exceed the sales of 2019 , and that the influxes are even closer to pre-pandemic figures ”, highlighted Eduardo Ceballos, president of the AECC.
At the moment in Spain there are 571 shopping centers and parks that generate 794,000 direct and indirect jobs. In the coming months, some new projects are expected to open, such as Espacio Caleido in Madrid, Atalaya del Tormes in Salamanca, Open Mall in Lanzarote or Nasa Nigrán in Vigo.