CHICAGO-Growth in consumer confidence, though slight, istranslating to a boost in the retail market, according to JonesLang LaSalle in a recent global report. Retailers are continuing totalk about new stores and plan for the holiday season, whileinvestors are seeing better quality properties come on the market,and lenders opening up cash flow.

Many projects put on hold during the global financial crisis areunderway again, according to the report. However, the retaillandscape for the next few years will be challenging, particularlyin mature markets. The growth hasn’t come without change, says GregMaloney, president and CEO of JLL Retail. Both retailers and ownershave had to improve business practices, and lenders are finallypushing properties off balance sheets, in some cases throughforeclosure. “This will start the process, get activity going forinvestors. It’s slow improvement, we’re not on a sharp curveupward,” Maloney says.