Mar 2026
Office recovery trends on the rise
According to a Placer.ai January 2026 article, December 2025 was the busiest in-office December since the start of the pandemic, reflecting a broader office recovery trend across the country.
Slow, steady improvements
Historically, December is a sleepy month for office foot traffic. Known as the “December dip,” it's when offices tend to be emptier due to factors like holiday vacations and inclement weather.
The last month of 2025 was no exception to the yearly dip. However, it still demonstrated an improvement over December 2024, gaining 3% improvement in average monthly visits per working day nationwide, according to Placer.ai’s data.
The upswing in office visits in December 2025 signals a broader office recovery. Placer.ai reports that even after adjusting for the number of working days, nationwide office visits rose 4.9% year over year (YOY).
Which cities are winning office foot traffic?
Across major cities, YOY gains have varied. However, the following cities saw major improvements in YOY office visits in 2025 compared to the previous year:
- San Francisco, CA
- Dallas, TX
- Boston, MA
- Chicago, IL
- Miami, FL
- Los Angeles, CA
- Atlanta, GA
- Washington, D.C.
- New York, NY
- Houston, TX
- Denver, CO
