The back to school season will also be a critical metric for retailers, especially since the 2019 season was especially successful.

A lack of experienced workers and subcontractors is a significant barrier.

Dayton, Huntsville, Colorado Springs, Omaha, and Des Moines are among the emerging hubs.

Even a partial return to the office could revive demand for retail in the urban core.

Here's what that could mean for CRE.

One category doing well is people looking for afternoon snacks.

"The slight shift, following a few months of minimal change, indicates that the market is settling into a return to normalcy."

The uptick in preleasing is mirrored in investment activity in the sector.