Atlanta Retail Market Report

Office jobs and demographic gains stoke consumer activity. Having achieved a full rent and vacancy recovery in 2021, Atlanta's retail sector is solidly in an expansionary phase. The metro's growing population, particularly among professionals in the 20- to 34-year-old cohort, bodes well for future consumer spending. Walmart and Nike are among the corporate giants expanding local operations, with both recently announcing plans to open technology centers in the near term. This year's notable proportion of staffing gains in cybersecurity and related fields should help insulate metro retail spending from inflationary headwinds and support increased foot traffic near office hubs, some of which are still recovering from the negative economic effects of the health crisis.