Bridget Carter's 'Data Room' in 'The Australian' is highly...

Bridget Carter's 'Data Room' in 'The Australian' is highly speculative. Not everything she writes eventually occurs.

FYI, on Wednesday 6 December 2023, she claims:

"...Meanwhile, Myer and David Jones CBD stores, where they generate about 20 per cent of their business, are thought to be impacted by recent protests in central Melbourne and Sydney which have been keeping shoppers away."

'Are thought' is not a definitive statement. What hard evidence does this columnist have?

The protests are a pain, as they typically block Swanston Street, plus Bourke Street, but the latter only east of the Myer store, not the Bourke St Mall where MYR's flagship store is. Sometimes these radical left wing protesters also block Flinders Street railway station's main entrance.

Some potential in-person shoppers may be intimidated. But there are usually alternative routes, such as in Melbourne using the Elizabeth Street exit from Flinders St station and walking north up Elizabeth Street. Melbourne protests typically occur on Friday afternoons and Sundays from 1130 or 1200 AEDT. Occasionally there are Saturday protests.

The Sydney protests seem less frequent.

The unknown is whether such potential shoppers instead visit MYR's website and order online.