Retail Sales Continued to Rebound in July, Supporting Retail REITs

Retail sales data for July point to a resumption in consumer spending, providing a boost for the retail REIT sector that has been under pressure throughout the coronavirus crisis, according to Nareit Senior Economist Calvin Schnure.

Retail sales rose 1.2% in July. While the increase was slower than that seen in the previous two months, sales rose to a level that was higher than before the crisis. Schnure noted that this is the fastest in history that retail sales have ever fully reversed the decline that occurred during a recession.

“This is good news for the retail REITs in the months ahead, that we’re seeing the retail spending coming back,” he said.