A rebound to above pre-pandemic levels in mall foot traffic data defies predictions that the outbreak would accelerate the demise of malls, while painting a picture of lockdown-weary Americans itching to go out and shop, a new report shows. Foot traffic at a sample of 100 indoor malls and 100 major outdoor outlet malls and lifestyle centers in July was up 0.7 percent compared to July 2019, according to a report from analytics firm Placer.ai obtained by The Epoch Times. July marked the first month of mall visits exceeding 2019 figures, the benchmark Placer.ai opted to use rather than 2020, when foot traffic data fell off a cliff due to lockdowns and so offers a less meaningful comparison. “Many speculated that the era of malls was coming to a close even before movement and gathering restrictions placed unprecedented stress on these hallmarks of American retail,” the report’s authors noted. “Although a post-COVID …