U.S. Retail Asking Rent Growth Slowed in the Second Quarter of 2026

Key Terms

rent spreads financial

The difference between the rent a landlord is getting (or can command) and a reference rent, such as the previous lease rate, the asking rate, or prevailing market rate. It shows how much rental income has changed or can be increased when leases turn over, acting like the gap between an old customer’s price and what a new customer pays. Investors use rent spreads to gauge a property’s ability to grow income, reflect demand, and signal pressure on occupancy or pricing power.

lease spreads financial

The difference between the rent a landlord can charge on a new or renewed lease and the rent that was being paid on the previous, expiring lease. Like comparing today’s price tag to last year’s for the same item, lease spreads show how quickly rents are rising or falling at a property and help investors gauge likely rental income growth, the strength of demand, and pressure on property values.

contractual rent escalations financial

A clause in a lease that schedules future increases in the rent, either as fixed step-ups, a percentage rise, or adjustments tied to an inflation index. Think of it like a built-in pay raise for the landlord that kicks in at set times or when an index moves. It matters to investors because these scheduled increases affect a property’s future cash flow, income predictability, and valuation.

3d digital twin technology technical

3D digital twin technology creates a detailed, virtual replica of a physical object, system, or environment by combining 3D models with real-time sensor and data feeds. Investors care because these replicas let companies test changes, predict failures, and optimize performance without interrupting operations—think of a flight simulator for factories or buildings—and can reduce costs, speed development, and reveal new revenue or efficiency opportunities.

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ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- U.S. retail asking rent growth slowed in the second quarter of 2026, according to data from CoStar, the leading global provider of online real estate marketplaces, information and analytics in the property markets.

Rent growth has slowed to lowest level in over a decade

In Q2 2026, national asking rent growth decelerated to +1.6% year over year – the slowest pace in more than a decade.

“The slowdown in asking rent growth is less a sign of weakening demand than a function of normalization,” said Brandon Svec, national director of retail analytics at CoStar Group. "While retail fundamentals remain healthy by historical standards, softer consumer spending growth, elevated interest rates and greater tenant cost pressures have reduced landlords’ ability to push rents at the aggressive pace seen earlier in the cycle.”

Despite slower rent growth, landlords continue to realize substantial rent spreads when space turns over, particularly in high-traffic retail corridors where available space remains scarce.

“While rent spreads have moderated somewhat from the record levels achieved in 2022 through 2024, they remain near multi-decade highs in many markets as rents on expiring leases often sit well below current market rates,” said Svec. “The combination of elevated lease spreads and larger contractual rent escalations is allowing many owners to continue generating meaningful revenue growth even as rent appreciation slows.”

Asking rent growth deceleration is evident across most major markets, but performance continues to vary considerably by region.

Several Sun Belt markets that led rent growth earlier in the cycle, including Phoenix, Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte and Las Vegas, remain among the stronger performers nationally, posting annual rent growth between roughly 3% and 6%, though many of these markets have seen moderating rent gains.

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For more information about the company and its products and services, please visit costargroup.com.

About CoStar Group
CoStar Group (NASDAQ: CSGP) is a global leader in commercial real estate information, analytics, online marketplaces, and 3D digital twin technology. Founded in 1986, CoStar Group is dedicated to digitizing the world’s real estate, empowering all people to discover properties, insights, and connections that improve their businesses and lives.

CoStar Group’s major brands include CoStar, a leading global provider of commercial real estate data, analytics, and news; LoopNet, the most trafficked commercial real estate marketplace; Apartments.com, the leading platform for apartment rentals; Homes.com, the fastest-growing residential real estate marketplace; and Domain, one of Australia’s leading property marketplaces. CoStar Group’s industry-leading brands also include Matterport, a leading spatial data company whose platform turns buildings into data to make every space more valuable and accessible; STR, a global leader in hospitality data and benchmarking; Ten-X, an online platform for commercial real estate auctions and negotiated bids; and OnTheMarket, a leading residential property portal in the United Kingdom.

CoStar Group’s websites attracted over 131 million average monthly unique visitors in the first quarter of 2026, serving clients around the world. Headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, CoStar Group is committed to transforming the real estate industry through innovative technology and comprehensive market intelligence. From time to time, we plan to utilize our corporate website as a channel of distribution for material company information. For more information, visit CoStarGroup.com.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260717599595/en/

News Media:
Haley Luther
Senior Communications Manager
(216) 278-0627
hluther@costar.com

Source: CoStar Group