2019 Will See More Store Closures Than the Previous Record Year

Peter Muoio is the chief economist for Ten-X.

The narrative about the retail market has changed. This year, more investors and industry experts are talking about the revival of retail, the strong yield-producing opportunities and how owners and retailers have evolved to new consumer demands. However, the latest stats don’t back up those claims. According to the most recent retail report from Ten-X Commercial, retail store closures this year are on track to surpass the previous record in 2017. J.C. Penney, Bed Bath & Beyond, CVS and Forever 21 are all closing several store locations.

“When you look at the store closing stats and that we are on pace for more store closings in 2019 than in 2017, it speaks to a situation that hasn’t ameliorated yet,” Peter Muoio, chief economist at Ten-X Commercial, tells GlobeSt.com. “Both 2017 and 2019 were strong years for the economy, and even as you look at the macro economy today, all of the data from the consumer sector is that it is still strong. So, for this to be happening while consumers are spending certainly points to something that hasn’t stabilized yet at this point in time.”