US retailers buy up real estate again as market tightens

In a significant reversal of recent years’ trends, retail chains in the United States are once again expanding their physical footprint — a move that signals renewed strength in retail real estate even amid macroeconomic headwinds. According to real-estate data firm CoStar Group, retailers moved into 5.5 million more square feet than they vacated in the third quarter of 2025. This resurgence comes as vacancy rates tighten and new construction lags The uptake in store space has coincided with historical ...