According to Webster’s Dictionary, an “anomaly” is defined as something that is different from what is ordinary or expected.

During the past 5 years, the country has experienced a major recession:  the housing market has been down, salaries have been stagnant, retail sales have been in a state of flux.  At the same time, online sales have risen.

The expectation would be that all of these factors would result in an equal downturn in the number of people walking the corridors of the nation’s malls.  Instead, mall traffic has remained constant—year after year.

According to the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC), the number of mall visits has actually gone up over the past 5 years, as well as the number of minutes spent per visit. The mall is also transforming into a “social hub,” offering restaurants, movies, and a meeting place for family and friends.

This is an anomaly.