At the end of each month, the AGS team looks back at articles and blog posts that we saw this month that stood out to us. Some are from news agencies, and many come from our partners, but not all use our data. Here is the round-up from June 2026.
Caliper
Caliper announced the release of Maptitude 2026, featuring a rebuilt mapping engine, faster performance, enhanced territory management tools, new routing reports, updated demographic datasets, and an AI-powered data assistant for Maptitude Online. Maptitude has long been an AGS software favorite, the mapping tool that we use on our blog. We can’t wait to use the updated features.
The Mapping Software Behind America’s Viral Maps Just Got Faster and Smarter: Maptitude 2026
Fortune
New analysis highlighted that one-third of Americans under age 35 now live with their parents, approaching pandemic-era highs. Notably, the majority are employed, suggesting that housing affordability—not unemployment—is the primary driver, as elevated home prices and rents continue to delay household formation and homeownership.
CARTO
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is here, and CARTO explored where brands can maximize sponsor activations across all host city markets. The analysis highlights the importance of understanding fan geography, host city dynamics, and visitor flows to identify the neighborhoods and venues where marketing investments are most likely to generate engagement.
Where Should World Cup 2026 Sponsors Activate? A Spatial Analysis of All 16 Host Cities | CARTO
Harvard University Joint Center for Housing Studies
The latest housing report from Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies paints a picture of a market struggling with affordability challenges. Home sales remain near three-decade lows, household growth is slowing, and cost burdens for both owners and renters remain high, even as new housing supply begins to ease some shortages in select markets.
Ten Takeaways from the 2026 State of the Nation’s Housing | Joint Center for Housing Studies
Kalibrate
Kalibrate examined where restaurant expansion is occurring across the United States and found that growth remains concentrated in Sun Belt markets and fast-growing suburban communities. The findings reinforce broader demographic trends showing population growth, migration, and consumer spending continuing to favor suburban areas in the South and Southwest.
Where US restaurant growth landed: A DMA-level view | Kalibrate Global
ICSC
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup expected to draw millions of visitors across North America, retailers and property owners are already preparing for increased consumer activity around host cities. Industry leaders see opportunities ranging from merchandise sales and experiential marketing to tourism-driven spending, making the tournament one of the largest retail events on the horizon.
Retailers and Landlords Prepare for the World Cup | ICSC
LinkedIn: The Enrollment Horizon
A recent analysis of higher education trends found that demographic shifts are reshaping where colleges and universities can expect future enrollment growth. Regions with growing populations of college-age residents are increasingly concentrated in the South and Mountain West, while many institutions in the Northeast and Midwest face demographic headwinds that could impact long-term enrollment strategies.
The Geography of Student Demand Is Changing | LinkedIn
Fox Business
Retailer Hibbett Sports plans to close approximately 175 underperforming stores as part of a broader North American reorganization following its acquisition by JD Sports. The move reflects ongoing efforts by retailers to optimize store portfolios, focusing investment on higher-performing locations while consolidating weaker markets.
Hibbett Sports closing 175 locations as parent JD Sports cuts costs | Fox Business