Shopping Malls Struggling

private consumption of shoppers dropped to 6.3% in 4th qtr 2016 

from 9% in 1st quarter of 2015

Greater KL has 120 malls, 10 more set to open or launch soon.

recent exits of Bulgogi Brothers, Tim Ho Wan and Tous Les Jours

not necessarily retail industry thriving.

malls in suburban areas dropped rentals by 0.7% year-on-year
rental ground floor RM10,000 to RM20,000 depending on size and location.

Suburban malls 20- 25% less for the same.

many retail centres, malls within Greater KL struggling 

shoppers’ overall sentiment remained weak 

suburban areas daily footfall down 25% especially on weekends.

Household consumption not recovered to prior (GST) 

consumer sentiment 80 points, below desired 100 points

rural and semi-urban areas rising cost of living hit harder 

rate of wage rises and employment much lower 

Premier malls still doing well

Suria KLCC, Pavilion, and Mid Valley performing well 

My comments :  Premier malls doing well because these are mostly patronised by higher income people (who are mostly non Melayus).  Lets thank Allah that some people in the country can still do an honest day's work and earn good incomes. 

Imagine if those people also have problems - then Mid Valley, KLCC Suria and Pavillion would also have to shut down. So let us be thankful that these few malls are still doing very well.

But other than that all the middle to lower middle market type malls are facing difficulties. Quite a few Aeons have shut down. 

Outside the malls,  the regular shops and small businesses are also suffering. Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia has shut down. Cake shops have shut down (birthday cakes are luxuries for many people).

The country is grinding down to a halt.  I have been saying this since the GST was implemented in 2015.  And I have been right. Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia has shut down. Re-read the Malay Mail story above.

Here is another prediction I want to make - if the kleptocrats win the general elections, that major petrol station operator may face problems in about two years.