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Central Arkansas Stores Move Outward

1 min read

Retailing has followed the shift of central Arkansas’ population from urban centers to suburban areas and outlying counties, notes Metroplan, the regional planning agency.

“With populations well over 100,000, Faulkner and Saline Counties now host national name-brand big-box chains, and many small retail options,” said Metroplan’s recently released “2017 Economic Review & Outlook.” The report examines the economy of the Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area.

“In recent years almost all the net growth in retail sales has been in these counties,” the report said. “Pulaski County retail sales have been essentially flat, actually declining after inflation adjustment.”

In addition, the report said, local employment in retailing has continued to grow, now accounting for 11.2 percent of all jobs, while national retail employment has almost stopped growing and its job share has fallen.

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