Construction of large shopping centers in Russia has almost come to a halt due to a drop in demand
Russian developers have significantly scaled back the construction of large shopping centers amid a decline in consumer activity. Over the past ten years, the average size of new shopping centers has decreased by more than 2.5 times.
As of the end of 2025, the average size of a new shopping center in Russia was 12,800 square meters, whereas in 2015 this figure stood at 34,500 square meters. The most significant reduction in the size of new projects occurred between 2022 and 2024.
In addition, in 2025, the volume of new shopping centers opened in Russian regions—excluding Moscow and St. Petersburg—fell by nearly 71% year-over-year — to 94,3 thousand square meters, the lowest figure on record.
Analysts attribute this trend to rising construction costs and Russians adopting a more frugal lifestyle. According to Focus Technologies, in the first quarter of 2026, foot traffic at shopping centers in Russia remained 25–27% lower than in 2019.
Source: Izvestia.
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