Inside the United States Retail Market: Q2 2026 Outlook
Cresa’s quarterly Retail Real Estate Outlook provides occupiers with a data-driven view of the retail market, highlighting national trends, key market shifts and the factors shaping leasing decisions across the U.S.
The report examines industrial real estate trends, net absorption, leasing activity, construction activity, rent growth, supply chain considerations and retail vacancy rates to help companies understand where the retail real estate market is stabilizing, where conditions are shifting and how to make more informed real estate decisions.
Looking for more insights? Explore Cresa’s quarterly Office and Industrial Occupier Outlook reports for the latest trends shaping commercial real estate strategy.
Selective Consumer Spending Supports a Resilient Retail Market
The U.S. retail market has remained resilient through the first half of 2026, supported by steady consumer spending and a limited pipeline of new development. While inflation and broader economic uncertainty continued to influence purchasing behavior, demand held up across many shopping center formats, helping support occupancy at well-located properties. At the same time, retailers continued to favor discipline over broad expansion, directing capital toward improving existing portfolios rather than maximizing store counts, with location decisions increasingly driven by long-term market potential, customer demographics, portfolio productivity, and flexibility.
Retail Tenant View
- Portfolio optimization remains a top priority, with retailers emphasizing store productivity, targeted market expansion, and strategic relocations over broad footprint growth.
- Consumer spending remains supportive of retail demand, but performance continues to vary by merchandise category, reinforcing the importance of market-specific site selection and trade area analysis.
- Limited availability of well-located retail space continues to increase competition for high-performing centers, making lease planning and renewal strategies increasingly important for portfolio occupiers.