Trend Category

Economic Development

Global and local shifts in the economy are changing the type of work that people do, impacting the built environment and our communities as well.

Trends to Act on Now

Brick-and-Mortar Store Closures

With the growth of e-commerce, more physical retail spaces such as department stores and shopping malls are becoming vacant.

Urban Agriculture

Urban agriculture, driven by climate action, health, and equity concerns, reshapes urban landscapes; planners must consider its environmental and social...

Surging Post-Pandemic Entrepreneurship

Motivated by remote work and independence, more Americans are launching businesses, potentially disrupting the dominance of large firms post-pandemic.

New Twists on E-Commerce

E-commerce growth and live shopping reduce demand for physical retail, weakening local economic impacts and reshaping urban development and transportation...

Megawarehouse Boom

Online commerce and globalization have led to an explosion of growth in the warehouse sector, especially in the development of...

FemTech

Digital health technologies tailored for women signal a growing prioritization of gender considerations in health care.

Everything As a Service

The “as a service” approach is signaling a shift in many industry sectors to transition their offerings towards subscription services.

Distribution and Fulfillment Center Growth

Amazon and others are expanding fulfillment centers nationwide, impacting communities with short delivery expectations and new planning challenges.

Creator Economy

The creator economy, fueled by social media, empowers independent workers and may disrupt traditional industries and reshape economic development patterns.

Trends to Prepare For

Reshoring Manufacturing Jobs

Reshoring, skilled workers, and federal incentives are fueling a U.S. manufacturing boom, impacting land use, zoning, and housing needs.

Global Food Insecurity

Global hunger disproportionately impacts developing nations and low-income populations in industrialized regions.

Food Production in Space

Building colonies in space will require acquiring and maintaining food supplies, and a growing number of researchers and companies seem...

Ethical Consumption

Individuals are becoming more aware of the connections between their lifestyle choices and climate change, fueling growth in more sustainable...

Care Economy Challenges

A confluence of factors is converging to make childcare and eldercare increasingly unattainable.

Trends to Learn About and Watch

Vertical Farming

Urban areas drive global food demand, increasing the need for vertical farming and urban agriculture to localize food production and...

Synthetic Food Production

Synthetic protein production offers a sustainable alternative to livestock farming, though challenges like water use, energy, and consumer interest remain.

Space Tourism

As space tourism grows slowly amid challenges, planners must balance economic benefits with environmental impacts and local community concerns.

Space-Driven Innovations

Space innovation is generating new projects here on Earth.

Space Debris Crisis

Growing space debris threatens satellite networks and missions, posing risks for planners relying on satellite data for current and future...

New Moon Race

The Moon is emerging as a hub for industry, commerce, and resource harvesting, supporting future off-Earth settlements and space colonization.

Factory in a Box

Advancements in 3D and 4D printing are enabling the development of compact, mobile "factory in a box" (FIAB) systems that...

Evolution of the Space Economy

The expanding private space sector offers opportunities in planning and job creation, but also presents challenges requiring specialized oversight and...

Agricultural Technology Advancements

AI, robotics, and gene editing are transforming agriculture through automation and crop innovation, prompting planners to consider impacts on farms...

Trend Reports

APA's foresight research is made possible in part through our partnership with the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy.

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