Full Breakdown
Department Store Traffic Shows Early Signs of Recovery
8/20/2026, 2:55:48 AM
Macy's Traffic Stabilizes as Store Upgrades Take Effect
Dow Jones Newswires reported on August 18, 2026 that a Placer.ai analysis found Macy’s year-over-year visit decline narrowed to 3.6 % in the second quarter, an improvement from the first-quarter trend despite ongoing store closures. The same-store metric was only 0.4 % below the prior-year level by July, indicating that traffic at existing locations is beginning to rebound as the retailer upgrades a smaller, more focused store fleet. The report characterizes this stabilization as a “foundation” for future sales growth.
Kohl's Records First Back-to-Back Monthly Visit Gains in Two Years
The same Dow Jones Newswires release noted that Kohl’s same-store visits rose in both June and July, marking the chain’s first consecutive monthly gains in roughly two years. After a 7.7 % slide in first-quarter visits, the decline moderated to 1.4 % in the second quarter, according to the Placer.ai data. Kohl’s strategy of positioning stores as local, value-focused errands hubs appears to be resonating, and the report suggests the chain could be “poised for sunnier days” if the early-summer trajectory continues.
Quantitative Snapshot from Placer.ai
- Macy’s: 2Q YoY visit decline = 3.6 %; July same-store visits ? 0.4 % below year-ago.
- Kohl’s: 1Q YoY visit decline = 7.7 %; 2Q decline = 1.4 %; June and July same-store visits = growth month-over-month.
Potential Impact on the Department Store Landscape
Stabilizing traffic at Macy’s and the modest rebound at Kohl’s suggest that targeted store-level investments and a focus on local, value-oriented shopping experiences may mitigate broader industry headwinds. Analysts view these trends as early indicators that department-store chains can rebuild foot traffic without wholesale expansion, relying instead on selective upgrades and refined positioning.
Upcoming Reporting
Kohl’s is slated to release its second-quarter earnings next week, providing a near-term financial test of whether the observed traffic improvements translate into stronger sales performance.
