KeyPoint Partners has released The KeyPoint Report for Southern New Hampshire 2012, a comprehensive report on the retail real estate market in the region, according to Bob Sheehan, vice president of research. Based on KeyPoint Partners' GRIID, which maintains detailed information on virtually all retail properties in the study area, The KeyPoint Report examines supply, vacancy and absorption, retailer activity, and market composition by store size and retail categories during the 11-month period from June 1, 2011 through April 30, 2012. "After a rebound in occupancy last year, when the vacancy rate decreased from 11.4% to 9.5%, the region reverted to patterns of the past, with the vacancy rate increasing to 10.6%," Sheehan said. Other highlights: With limited new construction and about 269,000 s/f of additional vacancy compared to last year, the region experienced approximately 195,000 s/f of negative absorption. While the absorption rate is disappointing, the cause is mainly attributable to three big box closings, Lowe's, Sears Essentials, and Building 19. These closings account for a combined approximately 308,000 s/f of vacant units. However, big box closings were not the only reason for a rise in vacancy. The closings of independent mom-and-pops continued to be the primary reason for new vacancy in smaller store size categories. In city and town rankings by total retail supply, the top ten cities and towns remain the same as last year. The "Big Three," Nashua, Manchester, and Salem, encompass 54% of the retail space in the region. Market Basket was the leader among expanding retailers by square footage, adding 100,000 s/f locations in Londonderry and Manchester. Newcomer Lord & Taylor followed, opening a 124,000 s/f store in the former Macy's space at The Mall at Rockingham Park in Salem. The market includes 39 cities and towns representing more than 835 square miles and approximately 540,500 permanent residents (41.0% of the state population).The KeyPoint Partners' GRIID maintains detailed information on virtually all retail properties located in key New England retail markets, representing more than 258 million s/f of retail space and approximately 59,800 retail establishments. The complete KeyPoint Report can be accessed at KeyPointPartners.com