Long considered the gold standard of retail, visits to grocery-anchored centers in cities like Dallas have slowed as the rising cost of goods prompts consumers to change their habits. Foot traffic was down across the city's grocery-anchored centers during the three months leading up to September, according to data from Placer.ai. That supports similar national Placer data from May, which also showed visits to superstores like Costco and Sam's Club were outpacing trips to traditional grocery stores as consumers attempted to save on gas and buy in bulk during a period of greater financial uncertainty. Data analysts say a dip in grocery visits is to be expected after the record-setting activity seen in 2021, but economic turmoil is also at play. “Inflation definitely has an impact, and it changes some of the patterns of where we shop,” Placer.ai Vice President of Marketing Ethan Chernofsky said. “Gas prices are really significant because they say to the consumer, ‘Go out less.’” 
DFW’s grocery industry has expanded rapidly over the past two years as a boom in population brought a flood of new stores to the market. Perhaps the most high-profile addition was H-E-B, which opened its first DFW location in Frisco in late September and has…  Read the full story here. | 
