US Retailers Still Fond of Global Expansion

LOS ANGELES—International expansion remains high on the agenda for retailers in 2015, in spite of uncertain economic prospects and cost escalation, according to CBRE Research’s annual How Active are Retailers Globally? survey. American retailers are among the most active, accounting for 16% of brands looking to expand overseas—tied with Germany and the UK and followed by Italy with 11 percent. Of those Americas brands, 43% are looking to Japan, China and Hong Kong as a top destination for expansion.Globally, 47% of retailers surveyed indicated that unclear economic prospects and cost escalation, largely due to increases in rental costs and lack of quality retail space, are the biggest concerns for 2015. However, despite these challenges, appetite for international expansion remains a strong focus as retailers continue to invest in their store network throughout 2015.