weigh on the real rate of rental growth though, likely keeping it in line with or slightly below the average growth rate seen during the five years preceding the pandemic.
During the second quarter of 2022, national retail vacancy rates moved slightly higher to 4.4% while our market areas reflected the following vacancy levels: Springfield, Missouri at 3.0%, St. Louis at 5.9%, Kansas City at 4.6%, Minneapolis at 3.2%, Tulsa, Oklahoma at 3.1%, Dallas-Fort Worth at 4.8%, Chicago at 5.8%, Atlanta at 4.0%, Phoenix at 5.8%, Denver at 4.6%, and Charlotte, North Carolina at 3.4%.
The U.S. has been in the midst of a historic boom in household spending on retail goods (both online and in store), all of which need to be stored in logistics properties across the country before reaching the end consumer. Even as inflation and interest rates have risen through spring and summer 2022, U.S. industrial leasing has shown no sign of slowing and remained at a record high level of 60% above pre-pandemic levels.
The consumer savings stockpile accumulated during the pandemic and wage growth should help to support consumers if the U.S. enters a recession or inflation continues its upward trajectory. This savings stockpile is one reason why key industrial demand drivers, including consumer goods spending, and U.S. imports have also held up far better in recent months than today’s diminished consumer confidence levels would suggest
U.S. industrial rent growth at 11.9% year over year continues to accelerate as the slowing macro economy has yet to move the retail space market in the tenants’ favor.
The jump in groundbreakings for speculative logistics developments during the latter half of the pandemic, combined with shortages of construction labor and materials, has set the stage for a choppy but protracted period of record-level completions of new industrial facilities in the U.S. during 2022 and 2023.
Meanwhile, the industrial market’s largest tenant, Amazon, is slowing its expansion of its distribution network and signs of weakness are emerging in consumer confidence as well as in the U.S. housing market, all due to rising inflation and interest rates. These are signals that the industrial market’s vacancy rate, at a record low of 4.0% as of second quarter 2022, may increase over the next several quarters. The magnitude of the change is difficult to gauge.
At June 30, 2022, national industrial vacancy rates sat at a record low of 4.0% while our market areas reflected the following vacancy levels: Springfield, Missouri at 1.5%, St. Louis at 2.7%, Kansas City at 4.4%, Minneapolis at 3.1%, Tulsa, Oklahoma at 3.5%, Dallas-Fort Worth at 5.5%, Chicago at 4.5%, Atlanta at 3.4%, Phoenix at 4.2%, Denver at 5.1% and Charlotte, North Carolina at 4.8%.
Our management will continue to monitor regional, national, and global economic indicators such as unemployment, GDP, housing starts and prices, consumer sentiment, commercial real estate price index and commercial real estate occupancy, absorption and rental rates, as these could significantly affect customers in each of our market areas.
COVID-19 Impact to Our Business and Response
Great Southern continues to monitor and respond to the effects of the COVID 19 pandemic. As always, the health, safety and well-being of our customers, associates and communities, while maintaining uninterrupted service, are the Company’s top priorities. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, as well as directives from federal, state and local officials, are being closely followed to make informed operational decisions, if necessary.
The Company continues to work diligently with its nearly 1,100 associates to enforce the most current health, hygiene and social distancing practices. To date, there have been no service disruptions or reductions in staffing.
As always, customers can conduct their banking business using our banking center network, online and mobile banking services, ATMs, Telephone Banking, and online account opening services. As health conditions in local markets dictate, Great Southern banking center lobbies are open following social distancing and health protocols. Great Southern continues to work with customers experiencing hardships caused by the pandemic. As a resource to customers, a COVID-19 information center continues to be available on the Company’s website, www.GreatSouthernBank.com. General information about the Company’s pandemic response, how to receive assistance, and how to avoid COVID-19 scams and fraud are included.