Chicago’s retail market continued to strengthen through the first quarter of 2026, with availability tightening across most major retail formats. Market-wide availability fell to 5.4% in 2026's first quarter, down from 5.7% one year earlier, marking another year of gradual improvement and placing the overall rate at its lowest level since before the pandemic. This broad-based tightening underscores consistent tenant demand and a lack of new supply across the metropolitan area.
Chicago retail tightens in early 2026
Market-wide availability drops to 5.4% as most retail formats continue steady year-over-year improvement.
CoStar Analytics
January 23, 2026 | 8:33 P.M.
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