NEW YORK—A recent Coresight Research survey of U.S. consumers that focused on shopping behaviors found that fewer consumers have visited shopping centers recently, even as the nation moves deeply into the holiday season. Only 14 percent of respondents said they had visited an open-air shopping center and only 12 percent had gone to an enclosed shopping center in the past two weeks. Both response rates were down by around five percentage points from the proportions the firm found in a similar survey earlier in November.

The most recent survey, with findings reported here, was conducted Nov. 24.

The research firm also noted that the findings align with the declining trend in consumers’ visits to shopping centers. The avoidance rate in shopping centers and malls remain high at 57 percent. These locations continued to be the most-avoided public places, the research firm said.

By age group, visits to both types of shopping centers peaked among respondents ages 45–60 this week. “Despite the overall downward trend, this age group still saw an uptick of almost five percentage points in the proportion that had gone to an enclosed shopping center,” Coresight Research noted.

In addition, the avoidance rate of any type of public area remained at an elevated level: 82 percent of respondents said that they are currently avoiding any public area, roughly the same as the previous survey.

Shopping malls/centers continued to be the most-avoided public places, and reviewing the monthly average results shows the avoidance of shopping centers/malls has increased month over month from October to November.