Kansas City Retail Market Report 1Q26

Kansas City's retail market outperformed regional and national benchmarks in early 2026, with leasing activity exceeding new deliveries by six-to-one over the past four quarters, occupancy at 95.4%, and investment volume reaching $725 million in the preceding 12 months—a 55.5% year-over-year increase. The National Retail Federation projects U.S. retail sales to grow 4.4% year-over-year in 2026 to approximately $5.6 trillion, supported by stable employment, wage growth, and healthy household balance sheets, though risks including inflationary pressures and geopolitical uncertainty remain.