Mexico Retail Foot Traffic Down 3.5%, Hit by Stock, Innovation

Retail stores in Mexican shopping malls and high streets experienced a 3.5% decline in foot traffic during the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year, according to a report by analytics platform Getin. March, April, and June recorded the lowest visitor numbers, attributed to a lack of innovative in-store experiences and limited product availability.

In contrast, January saw stronger customer flow driven by discounts and seasonal promotions, said Francisco Álvarez, commercial director and co-founder, Getin. Seasonal events such as Easter and Mother’s Day in May also contributed to a 2.5% year-over-year boost in traffic during those months.

Despite increased activity in commercial corridors, fewer visitors entered stores. Getin CEO and co-founder Anabell Trejo noted that while consumers continue to frequent malls and high streets, many seek entertainment rather than shopping. Promotions and product launches remain key drivers of in-store visits and sales.

Retail zones in northern and central-northern regions—including Jalisco, Aguascalientes, and Mexico City—reported the highest foot traffic. However, many visitors did not enter retail establishments, according to the report Challenges of Mexican Retail in Connecting With the New Consumer 2025.

The average dwell time in stores slightly increased to 9.58 minutes in 1Q25, up from 9.56 minutes a year earlier. Trejo attributed the increase to prolonged browsing during January sales.

Purchase conversion rates—measuring the percentage of visitors who made a purchase—also improved slightly. January, February, and April showed the strongest performance, driven by promotions and holiday-related shopping. Overall, conversion increased by 0.5%.

Meanwhile, the average ticket value rose by 5.6%, primarily due to the sale of higher-value items and marketing tactics such as upselling and cross-selling. Shopping malls saw an 8.3% increase in average ticket value, while high-street stores recorded a 5.3% rise. The number of items per transaction remained largely unchanged.

Trejo said the higher ticket value reflects consumers’ willingness to spend more on quality products and services, influenced in part by inflation and shifts in product offerings.

Getin forecasts that malls will outperform high-street retail stores in the third quarter, with a projected decline in visits to the latter. However, malls are expected to see increases in both conversion rates and items per transaction, driven by improved retail strategies and greater integration of technology.