The favourable upward trend seen since September in annualized trading densities has continued and has now broken through zero on a nominal basis, says Belinda Clur, whose company reports benchmarks and other key trading indicators to listed and unlisted property funds.
She says the key consolidated Clur benchmark for subscribing South African shopping centres showed annualized trading density for March of R33 280 per sq m, representing year on year growth of 1.8%. The respective February figures were R33 035 per sq m and 0.4%. This represents a consistent improvement on the -1.7% level reported in September 2017.
The March Clur benchmark for annualized trading density at super regional and regional centres showed year on year growth of 1.2% to R35 332 per sq m. That compared with the February benchmarks of R35 057 per sq m and -0.5%.
At small regional, community and neighbourhood centres, the Clur benchmark for annualized trading density in March was R28 737 per sq m. That meant year on year growth of 3%, better than the 2.3% and R28 558 per sq m reported for February.
Overall turnover across the monitored properties grew 7.1% in March 2018 against March 2017, and were up 3.3% over the 12 month rolling period to March 2018.