Fighting Off the Mallpocalypse

In 2017, a new report released by Credit Suisse gave voice to the fears that retailers and real estate professionals have been murmuring about for quite some time. According to the report, approximately 20 percent to 25 percent of all American malls will be shuttered inside of five years.

What is remarkable is the fact that, as dramatic as that conclusion might seem, it might be a conservative estimate. Even more concerning is what that report does not go into detail about: the potential economic fallout of this mall “die off,” and what the extent of the impact could be—not only on the commercial real estate landscape, but on the national and international economy.