Empty space as retail chains trim their store numbers

The amount of abandoned and empty office, warehouse and business space continues to grow.Watch for two other retail trends in the next few months.

Stores will close - and chains will reduce their number of stores.

Bloomberg reports a prediction from the International Council of Shopping Centers that US retailers may close 73,000 stores in the first half of 2009.

Talbots Inc. and Sears Holdings Corp. are among chains already closing underperforming locations.