Sales at Westfield shopping centres in Australia and New Zealand have increased.
Scentre Group, which operates the centres, said comparable specialty store sales in Australia rose 4.2 per cent in the September quarter.
For the 9 months to September sales are up 3.7 per cent. Total retail sales for the group have reached $20.2 billion for the 9-month period.
The group, a merger of the Westfield Retail Trust and Westfield Group’s Australian and NZ management business, reaffirmed its forecast funds from operations of 10.88c a share, with a forecast distribution of 10.2c per security for the six months to the end of the calendar year.
Chief executive Peter Allen said the group has seen a positive retail sales trend, with 15 consecutive months of positive specialty sales growth in Australia.
"We have seen an improving retail sales trend with 15 consecutive months of positive specialty sales growth in Australia with ... good increases in the fashion, footwear, jewellery, leisure and retail services categories," Mr Allen said.
Average specialty store rent rose to $1,551 per square metre by September 30, up 1.9 per cent from a year earlier.
The group said its New Zealand arm was improving, with comparable specialty store sales growth up 3.7 per cent for the September quarter, and increasing 2 per cent over the last 9 months.
Shares in Scentre were two cents lower at $3.55 at 10.27am (AEDT).
Westfield Group and its associated passive property trust, WRT, were restructured in June to split the company's Australian and New Zealand operations from its growing international business.
Under the new structure, Westfield Corporation owns the international division, which includes flagship centres like Westfield London, while the Australasian shopping centres are controlled by Scentre.