Indoor mall foot traffic recovers in April

The latest mall foot traffic numbers for April show the beginnings of a return to pre-pandemic normal, according to data provided by Placer.ai.

Why it matters: Earnings results and stock prices are in bear market mode. But consumer trends and data on physical retail stores remains positive.

Flashback: Last October, mall data was looking positive, but the Omicron variant threw a wrench in that trend.

Of note: Placer.ai's data is further supported by some of the most recent retail sales data that shows sales at physical retail stores up 10%, according to Mastercard SpendingPulse.

The intrigue: The most surprising bit of data is that much-maligned indoor malls appear to be recovering faster than open-air lifestyle centers and outlets.