Economic downturn helps outlet malls boom

*17% increase in business in 2011 over 2010 in apparel at outlet malls

* In typical malls, 1 in 11 stores are empty

"It’s estimated that 85% of the items sold at outlet malls were never sold in full-price stores. The vast majority of what you’ll find at outlet malls isn’t leftover items or goods damaged or returned at first-run, full-price stores at the traditional mall, but goods that are produced specifically for sale at outlet malls—and typically, they’re produced on the cheap."

Read more: http://moneyland.time.com/2011/08/12/as-regular-malls-struggle-outlet-malls-are-booming/#ixzz1V3SsQZrD