BLING-BLING BOULEVARD   Anti-social.

Fifth Avenue is the most expensive shopping thoroughfare in the world.

 

$950 per sq. ft.
New York

Fifth Avenue

$711 per sq. ft.
Paris

Avenue des Champs Elysées

$569 per sq. ft.
Hong Kong

Causeway Bay

$517 per sq. ft.
London

Oxford Street

$381 per sq. ft.
Dublin

Grafton Street

$332 per sq. ft.
Munich

Kaufingerstrasse

$325 per sq. ft.
Moscow

Tverskaya

$321 per sq. ft.
Sydney

Pitt Street Mall

$311 per sq. ft.
Tokyo

Ginza

$301 per sq. ft.
Seoul

Myeongdong

Source: Cushman & Wakefield Healey & Baker

DOLLAR STORES SHOW SLOW GROWTH

Sales at warehouse clubs, such as Costco, are growing faster than other discount centers, with dollar stores showing especially slow growth. Wal-Mart is below the median, with 3.5 percent growth on a sales-weighted average over 12 months through October.

HISPANIC SHOPPING HABITS CHANGE WITH ACCULTURATION

As Hispanics learn to navigate Anglo society, their shopping behavior becomes similar to that of non-Hispanic households, according to ACNielsen. This trend is obvious in the use of loyalty cards. Just 52 percent of Spanish-only speakers use such programs vs. 90 percent of non-Hispanics. Membership seems to increase with acculturation, but still lags national rates. An ACNielsen survey shows that many Hispanics aren't eager to join institutional programs that use personal information. Other objections include the time required to complete the application and a dislike for showing the card.

TRADITIONAL GROCERS LOSE MARKET SHARE

The emergence of the supercenter — a discounter with a full grocer — has put supermarkets at risk. And supercenters' share will expand, according to Property & Portfolio Research projections.

UNDER THE RADAR

Some 6 percent of retailers and 4 percent of real estate, finance and insurance business people say they have concealed cash deals from the IRS, according to an e-poll by American Demographics. The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry is the most dishonest when it comes to taxes, the survey reveals.

 

                                                               - retail news from retail traffic