Still moving: Chicago’s office and transit activity

- Downtown Chicago continues to show improving utilization each October since the pandemic, reaching nearly 59% of 2019 levels, about 6% below the U.S. average. While Fulton Market, West Loop, and Central Loop submarkets are outperforming or on pace, East Loop, River North, and N Michigan Ave submarkets remain considerably weaker, trailing the U.S. average by nearly 15%.

- While October busyness is at its highest post-pandemic level, the pace of annual growth has slowed. Average October YoY gains from 2020-2023 held steady at 13% but have since fallen to 6% in 2024 and just 1% in 2025.

- Despite the deceleration of busyness growth, weekday CTA ‘L’ ridership in the CBD has climbed 10% YoY ahead of the holiday season, suggesting broader downtown activity. Stations seeing the strongest YoY gains include Jackson/Dearborn (24%), Washington/Wabash (20%), and Merch Mart (18%).