DENVER — The U.S. retail real estate sector is continuing to move forward — but with caution. While the industry’s fundamentals remain relatively healthy, retailers and investors are evolving their strategies and adapting to shifting consumer behaviors, according to Integra Realty Resources (IRR), a commercial real estate valuation services firm based in Denver. IRR’s 2026 Retail Report explores the trends shaping the transformation of retail real estate, and where the sector is headed next. Consumer spending has shifted, largely because of macroeconomic machinations like inflation and slower job growth. Higher-income earners still have the ability to spend, but price-conscious consumers are increasingly trying to maximize value for their dollar at discount grocery and convenience stores. IRR notes that the retail sector posted 1.7 million square feet of positive net absorption nationally, which outpaced new construction more than twelvefold at 214,00 square feet. In the third quarter of 2025, the national vacancy rate slightly declined, coming in at 10.4 percent. Anthony Graziano, CEO of IRR, emphasizes that while leasing is healthy, store closures are masking the improvement. “E-commerce pressure, retailer bankruptcies and ongoing drugstore consolidation have released significant space back into the market, and until that churn settles, vacancy will look more …
