August 2026 Industrial Report: Opposition to Data Centers Sparks Statewide Initiatives to Curb Construction

Key Takeaways:

• As the movement against data centers gains momentum, New York, Texas and Pennsylvania are among several states looking at moratoriums on proposed projects.
• Tampa, Fla., in-place rents grew 7% in the last year as its pipeline winds down.
• North Carolina’s pipeline is boosted by massive, 8-million-square-foot development.
• Despite a recent slowdown, concerns remain about the influence of rising producer prices on industrial and overall economic growth.

Regional Highlights:

• Portfolio deals push Los Angeles sales past the $2.5-billion threshold.
• In-place rents for industrial spaces in Chicago increased 5% in the last 12 months.
• Charlotte, N.C., and Memphis, Tenn., log double-digit month-over-month pipeline expansions.
• Bridgeport, Conn., and New Jersey vacancies stay below the national average.

Trends & Industry News

As Pushback Against Data Centers Grows, Several States Impose Moratoriums on Proposed Projects

Throughout multiple states and cities, a movement against data centers is gathering momentum. Fueled by concerns about the industry’s influence on local communities and the environment — from energy consumption and rising utility bills for nearby residents to tax breaks and pollution — it aims to halt the construction of such facilities.

According to a recently conducted Gallup poll, roughly 70% of Americans are either strongly or somewhat opposed to the construction of a data center near them. These worries are now starting to translate into concrete actions and initiatives from voters and policymakers alike: Town halls have turned into public platforms for airing dissatisfaction with data centers with some states considering moratoriums on proposed developments.

“We foresaw the growing “NIMBYism” against industrial development and data centers specifically a year ago – however, the scale of public disapproval and shared opposition has surged in recent months.”

Peter Kolaczynski, Director, Yardi Research

Furthermore, data centers have become a hot topic during local elections with several officials either losing their seats or being forced to change their stance on this issue under increased pressure from constituents.

Interestingly, the pushback against data centers is a bipartisan phenomenon. For instance, New York Governor, Kathy Hochul, approved a one-year moratorium on hyperscale data center development in an effort to buy time for regulators to ascertain and mitigate the industry’s effects. Pennsylvania and Texas also recently joined a growing number of states willing to impose such moratoriums.

Notably, Texas’ move to join this movement is somewhat surprising given the state’s reputation as a business-friendly haven, coupled with its longstanding push to attract data center investment throughout the years. It also boasts the largest pipeline for data center construction. Yet, once again, amid mounting public pressure, Governor Gregg Abbott proposed a moratorium on new data center approvals pending a comprehensive audit of projects seeking connection to the Texas power grid.

According to Governor Abbott, one of the main reasons for the audit process was failure on the part of several data center developers to respond to inquiries regarding water and power usage. This lack of transparency has fueled public skepticism, which, in turn, means that clear communication around operational costs will be vital for the future of these projects going forward.

Rents & Occupancy

Solid Growth for Tampa, Fla., In-Place Rents as Pipeline Winds Down

The nationwide average for in-place rents in July was $9.25 per square foot, up $.05 month-over-month (M-o-M) and 5.4% in a 12-month period. Meanwhile, with a 7.9% increase in the last 12 months, Atlanta recorded the highest growth for in-place rents among top U.S. markets, followed by equally robust upticks in Miami (7.4%) and Dallas (7.3%).

Tampa, Fla., also witnessed a 7% increase for its in-place leases during the same period, thanks, in part, to the market’s location within one of the fastest-growing states in the country, as well as its access to transportation infrastructure, including the largest port in Florida. As such, rents are likely to continue their upward trajectory in the near and medium term as Tampa’s pipeline has shrunk to roughly 1% of stock with approximately 2.9 million square feet currently under construction. When including planned properties, the pipeline represents 2.4% of stock.

At the national level, vacancy rates stood at 9.3% in July, up 20 bps compared to last year. Additionally, the increase in vacancies that was sparked by a historic supply wave is nearing its end, although some markets will continue to experience increases as they seek to strike a balance between new industrial market supply and demand.

Plus, nationwide premiums on new leases — which stood at $2 per square foot during the start of the decade — have fallen continuously throughout the last five quarters. They currently stand at $.81 per square foot, which is above the average for in-place rents.

Supply

Winston-Salem-Greensboro, N.C., Pipeline Boosted by Massive, 8-Million-Square-Foot Project

Some 427.6 million square feet of industrial space is under construction across the U.S., making up approximately 2% of stock. Moreover, there’s a growing number of starts on industrial projects, especially compared to their lowest point in 2024, when 304.1 million square feet of new space began construction. Then, by 2025, the total was 333.1 million square feet, whereas, this year, Yardi Matrix has already recorded 180.6 million square feet of industrial starts as of July. Once all of the data is compiled, the expectation is that 2026 will be the second consecutive year of growth for national industrial starts.

When it comes to construction activity so far this year, a trio of Phoenix (18.1 million square feet), Dallas (15.9 million square feet) and Houston (9.9 million square feet) make up the podium. Then, we have a somewhat unexpected fourth place finish for Winston-Salem-Greensboro in North Carolina with a total of 9.2 million square feet of industrial space in the pipeline — thanks, in large part, to a massive, 8 million-square-foot, 600-acre JetZero manufacturing plant that broke ground in June.

Transactions

National Average Sale Prices Reach $145 Per Square Foot After 4 Quarters of Consecutive Growth

As of July, Yardi Matrix logged $50.1 billion in total industrial transactions with average prices around $140 per square foot. After a period of relative stagnation, the data shows a noticeable upward trend in national average sale prices during the last four quarters. More precisely, at the start of 2022 and up until the third quarter of 2025, average sale prices for industrial properties ranged from $114 to $127 per square foot. However, since the closing quarter of 2025, that average has gone up to $145 per square foot.

Even as the national average has risen, New Jersey is experiencing a decrease. With year-to-date sale prices at $184 per square foot, the Northeastern market is witnessing its lowest average since 2020. That said, it’s worth noting that this slip is mostly due to the largest sale in the market weighing down the overall price per square foot.

Specifically, the 3.2-million-square-foot Anheuser-Busch brewery in Newark, N.J., changed hands in a $360 million transaction with an average price per square foot of $112. The new owners, The Goodman Group, announced plans to redevelop the 87-acre site, which is located in one of the nation’s main logistics corridors with access to Newark Airport, as well as Port Newark/Elizabeth Marine Terminal. The site’s zoning flexibility was another major selling point.

Western Markets

Portfolio Deals Push LA Sales Past $2.5 Billion Threshold

Average premiums on new leases at the national level currently stand at $.80 per square foot with several Western markets recording values above that mark. For instance, new leases in California’s Central Valley commanded an additional $1.30 per square foot compared to in-place agreements, while premiums on new leases for industrial spaces in Phoenix(opens in new tab) and Seattle were just below that. Nearby, Inland Empire, Calif., rent growth was the most noticeable across the region at 7.2% during a 12-month period, followed by California’s Bay Area with 5.4%.

At the same time, construction activity for new industrial space in Portland, Ore.(opens in new tab), also picked up, growing by nearly 10% compared to the previous month to reach a total of roughly 3.5 million square feet. That’s a 165% Y-o-Y jump, outpacing the likes of California’s Central Valley (152%) and Inland Empire (109%). In the Portland area, the 778,720-square-foot Sequoia Logistics Center in Canby, Ore., developed by Trammell Crow and Affinius Capital and slated for completion in January 2027(opens in new tab), is one of the larger developments in the market. Upon completion, the site will be equipped with 4,000 amps of power capacity and 143 dock doors, as well as 224 trailer and 798 auto parking spaces.

Meanwhile, vacancy rates have gone up by 110 bps Y-o-Y across California’s Inland Empire to 8.7% in July. Similarly, rates in the Bay Area are currently hovering around the nationwide average (9.3%), reflecting a similar evolution during that period.

What’s more, sales of Los Angeles industrial spaces(opens in new tab) exceeded the $2.5-billion mark in July — the largest within the region — following an 82% Y-o-Y increase. Here, three Link Logistic divestments(opens in new tab) in the first half of 2026 have been major contributors to the market’s year-to-date sales volume. The largest of these was the $123-million deal for the South Bay Distribution Center, followed by Cerritos Industrial Park ($98 million) and Los Angeles LA3 IBX Data Center ($79 million). Yet, month-over-month across Western markets, it was California’s Central Valley that boasted the most significant increase (104%), largely influenced by Amazon’s acquisition of the 1.1-million-square-foot Wonderful Industrial Park in Shafter, Calif., for $152 million.

Midwestern Markets

Rent Increases 5% for Industrial Spaces in Chicago in Last 12 Months

While Chicago topped the regional list of year-to-date sales volume, reaching $2.6 billion in July, runner-up Columbus, Ohio, stood out for its month-over-month growth (75%). The latter market’s total went from $424 million to $741 million thanks to deals such as the $138 million sale of 6241 Shook Road — a 1-million-square-foot industrial space in Columbus’(opens in new tab) Grove City suburb, formerly owned by Whirlpool — as well as Amazon’s $95.2-million acquisition of West Jefferson Logistics Center 1 from Stonemont Financial Group. That said, in terms of year-over-year increases in sales volume, Detroit is the standout within the Midwest. Its market total this time last year was $264 million, whereas its current overall volume is 110% higher at $555 million.

Back in Chicago, vacancies have reached 11%, although they remain 150 bps below the rates recorded in the market the previous year. On the other hand, vacancy rates for warehouses and industrial spaces in Detroit(opens in new tab) increased by 160 bps Y-o-Y to reach 7.9% in July. Meanwhile, St. Louis rates have demonstrated remarkable stability, both on a month-over-month and year-over-year basis, with very mild variation to its vacancy rate (currently at 7.6%.

Notably, Cleveland’s industrial pipeline shot up 167% Y-o-Y — the highest among Midwestern markets — going from 1.5 million to 4 million square feet. The 473,000-square-foot Aligned CMH-02 data center in Conesville, Ohio, is among the major projects under construction in Cleveland. Columbus and Minnesota’s Twin Cities also boasted remarkable pipeline expansions at 94% and 81%, respectively, across the same period.

Staying in Ohio, rents for industrial space in Cincinnati(opens in new tab) are yet to break the $6-per-square-foot barrier. The market also has the widest lease spread across the Midwest with new leases commanding a $1.10 premium compared to in-place agreements. At the same time, Chicago recorded a 4.7% hike in lease rates in the last year with $.60 premiums on leases closed in July. But, at $7.77, average leases in Minnesota’s Twin Cities command roughly $1 more per square foot than those in Chicago.

Southern Markets

Double-Digit M-o-M Pipeline Expansions in Charlotte, N.C., & Memphis

Several large-scale developments broke ground in Charlotte, N.C., in July, boosting the market’s pipeline by 59% M-o-M. Initially announced in September 2025(opens in new tab), work at a 2.4-million-square-foot warehouse in Concord, N.C.(opens in new tab), owned by Austrian beverage packer Rauch, recently picked up momentum, while construction on the first phase of QTS South Carolina Campus kicked off last month. Estimated to be completed by the end of next year, the Blackstone-owned project will add 940,000 square feet of space to the Charlotte industrial market(opens in new tab). Likewise, the pipeline in the Memphis, Tenn, area also increased by 34% since the previous month with the start of the first phase at the Marshall Trade Center, a 1.1-million-square-foot building in Byhalia, Miss.

In terms of rent growth across the last 12 months, Southern markets hold down the national top three: Atlanta, Miami, and Dallas leases went up an average of 7% to 8% in this period, although it’s worth noting that, at $14.01 per square foot, asking prices for warehouse and industrial spaces in Miami(opens in new tab) are double those in the other two markets. Across Southern markets, the same trio also recorded significant premiums on new leases, along with Nashville, Tenn.; Houston; and Baltimore.

In particular, Dallas consolidated its position as the #1 U.S. market for industrial year-to-date transactions by racking up nearly $4 billion in sales after a 50% M-o-M increase: Several $200+ million deals were finalized throughout July, such as the Core5 Logistics Center at Wintergreen, for which Sterling Investors paid $257 million, or the $236-million acquisition of the PointSouth Logistics & Commerce Centre – Building 1 by the U.S. General Services Administration.

Further east, transactions for industrial spaces in Tampa, Fla.,(opens in new tab) increased 39% since the previous month to reach $506 million. Here, two buildings within Hillwood’s Pace Innovation Center went for a combined $95 million, whereas, in Baltimore, Sagard Real Estate purchased Eastport Industrial Business Center at 7001 Quad Ave. for $91 million.

Not to be outdone, vacancy for warehouses and industrial spaces in Houston(opens in new tab) and Atlanta remain below the national 9.3% threshold at 6.4% and 8.5%, respectively. And, another Southern market with rates below the U.S. average, Nashville, Tenn., recorded an even lower 5.5% vacancy rate in July, marking a 330-bps decline year-over-year. At the opposite end, Charlotte, N.C.; Memphis, Tenn.; and Miami’s rates are all above 10%.

Northeastern Markets

Bridgeport, Conn., & New Jersey Vacancies Below National Average

New Jersey industrial vacancies shrank by 320 bps Y-o-Y, hovering around 8% in July. In contrast, Philadelphia rates have increased across the same period, from 7.5% to 10.4%, marking a 290-bps uptick. Yet, despite month-over-month increases, Bridgeport, Conn., and New Jersey remain the two Northeastern markets with vacancy rates below the national level (9.3%).

Plus, the gap between in-place rents and new leases in Bridgeport remains one of the widest not just across the Northeast, but also nationally, behind only Miami. As of July, industrial spaces in Bridgeport(opens in new tab) commanded $13.25 per square foot — some $3 above the 12-month average leasing rate. Otherwise, standing at $9.05 per square foot, Philadelphia rents are the outlier across the region as the only market in which industrial leases remain below the $10 mark, as well as below the nationwide average ($9.25).

Back in Connecticut, year-to-date sales in Bridgeport totaled $276 million in July — up an impressive 60% compared to the previous month and 49% Y-o-Y. In this case, New York-based investment consultant DRA Advisors acquired three properties from The Silverman Group for approximately $26 million. Meanwhile, major deals for warehouses and industrial spaces in Philadelphia(opens in new tab) last month included the $75.5 million sale of a 146,470-square-foot asset by Crown Holdings, as well as Faropoint’s $42-million acquisition of 16 Cabot Blvd. in Langhorne, Pa.

Finally, New Jersey’s pipeline continues apace, currently standing at 10 million square feet under construction, or roughly 1.7% of existing stock. Month-over-month, construction activity increased roughly 17% with Kurv Industrial’s 471,321-square-foot project in Perth Amboy, N.J., among the significant developments in the New Jersey industrial market(opens in new tab).

Economic Indicators

Concerns Over Rising Producer Prices, Despite Recent Slowdown

According to data released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, wholesale prices remained unchanged throughout July. Similarly, final demand in the Producer Price Index (PPI) was unchanged in June with a 0.2% drop in goods and 0.7% increase in services. Furthermore, increases in the PPI in the last year remain a concern despite a slowdown in price increases in July. On an annual basis, the final demand went up by 4.7% with services growing 3.9% and goods up by 6.4%.

Last year, PPI increases were influenced by tariffs, but the oil price shock has proven a far greater challenge. Year-over-year, increases in final demand exceeded the 4% mark in March (for the first time since early 2023), hitting a new high in May (5.8%). The slowing of the index in the last two months is beneficial for both the industrial sector and the overall economy, but if the trend of producer price increases continues for the remainder of 2026, it’s likely to put pressure on supply chains and industrial operators amid mounting concerns regarding inflation and economic growth.

Methodology

The monthly CommercialCafe national industrial real estate report considers data recorded throughout the course of 12 months and tracks top U.S. industrial markets with a focus on average rents; vacancies (including subleases, but excluding owner-occupied properties); deals closed; pipeline yield; forecasts; and the economic indicators most relevant to the performance of the industrial sector. Listing rate and occupancy information was based on Yardi Research data.

• Average Rents: Provided by Yardi Market Expert, a cutting-edge service that uses anonymized and aggregated data from other Yardi platforms to provide the most accurate rental and expense information available.

• Vacancy: The total square feet vacant in a market, including subleases, divided by the total square feet of industrial space in that market. Owner-occupied buildings are not included in vacancy calculations.

Stages of the supply pipeline: 

• Planned: Buildings that are currently in the process of acquiring zoning approval and permits, but have not yet begun construction.

• Under Construction: Buildings for which construction and excavation have begun.

Sales volume and price-per-square-foot calculations for portfolio transactions or those with unpublished dollar values are estimated using sales comps based on similar sales in the market and submarket; use type; location and asset ratings; sale date; and property size.

Year-to-date metrics and data include the time period between January 1 of the current year through the month prior to publishing the report.

Market boundaries in the CommercialCafe industrial report coincide with those defined by the CommercialCafe Markets Map(opens in new tab) and may differ from regional boundaries defined by other sources.

Fair Use & Redistribution 

We encourage and freely grant you permission to reuse, host, or repost the research, graphics and images presented in this article. When doing so, we kindly ask that you credit our research by linking to CommercialCafe.com or this page so that your readers can learn more about this project, the research behind it and its methodology. For more in-depth, customized data, please contact us at [email protected](opens in new tab)