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 September 2026.
Malls Make a Comeback-The Wall Street Journal
After years of pessimism, malls are outperforming other commercial property types, with values rising 13% over the past year—more than twice the gain for commercial properties overall. Successful owners are drawing shoppers through renovations and a tenant mix less vulnerable to online competition.
What AI Means for Location Analytics-SiteSeer
SiteSeer explores how AI can help interpret market data, compare locations, and communicate findings, while emphasizing that a convincing answer still needs reliable analysis behind it. For site selection, the value of AI depends on the quality of its data, the tools performing the calculations, and a methodology users can verify.
Mapping Migrant Destinations — Associated Press
The Associated Press explains how it obtained and analyzed federal records on roughly 4.5 million migrants to examine their reported destinations after entering the U.S. The project offers a detailed geographic view of migration patterns while acknowledging that self-reported destination ZIP codes do not necessarily reflect where people ultimately settled.
The Value of Consumer Spending Data — Kalibrate
Two markets with similar populations can offer very different spending opportunities, making consumer expenditure data valuable for measuring market share and evaluating expansion. Kalibrate highlights how sources including AGS Consumer Expenditure data and MRI Consumer Behavior Profiles help businesses understand both spending potential and the people behind the purchases.
AI and the Future of Geospatial Software — Joe Francica
Joe Francica argues that AI agents connecting directly to cloud data and spatial tools could disrupt traditional geospatial software subscriptions. As these workflows evolve, he sees growing importance for data governance that manages access, licensing, and query costs across multiple providers.