According to the Monthly Mall Merchandise Index compiled by the International Council of Shopping Centers, sales per square foot for non-anchor mall stores rose 2.8% in the month of August versus the year-ago month. The July increase was 2.2%. Continued benefits from the child tax credit checks drove stronger Back-to-School sales, according to the ICSC.

Nationally, the measured Footwear categories sales posted a total 3.8% gain in August sales per square.

Athletic Footwear was the strongest footwear category, surging 8.4%, fueled by a 13.6% increase in sales per square foot in the South and a 7.4% increase in the Midwest. The Athletic Footwear Specialty channel led all GAFO categories for the month, driven by “licensed apparel” and “exclusive footwear”, according to ICSC.

One could also reason that The Finish Line had a lot do with the Midwest and Southern gains.

Family Footwear stores inched up 0.8%, held back by a 0.8% decline in sales per square foot in the Northeast, while the West gained 3.1% in the category. Children’s Footwear gained 0.6% — slower than the July gain — while Men’s and Women’s Shoe stores showed declines of 4.3% and 4.5%, respectively.

Total Sporting Goods/Bicycles was up 2.0% for the month after a flat July, with solid gains in the South and Midwest, offset by mid single-digit declines in the Northeast and West.