VACANCIES at United States neighborhood and community shopping centers have risen in the second quarter to a 13-year high, while vacancies at larger regional malls are at their highest level since 2002, according to research firm Reis Inc.

The average vacancy rate at neighborhood and community malls rose to 8.2 percent, up from 7.3 percent a year earlier and the highest level since 1995, the New York-based real-estate researcher told Bloomberg News.

At regional and super-regional malls, vacancies increased to 6.3 percent, up from 5.6 percent a year earlier and the highest since the first quarter of 2002, Reis said.

Retail sales and demand for shopping-center space are being hurt by rising unemployment, increasing food and gasoline costs, and declining home values. US employers cut jobs in June for a sixth straight month, and the jobless rate remained at 5.5 percent after jumping in May by the most in two decades, the Labor Department said last week.

The amount of retail space being abandoned, "consistent with store closures, was at its highest level in almost 28 years," or as long as Reis had been collecting data, Sam Chandan, the firm's chief economist, said in an e-mail message.

Retailers Linens 'n Things Inc, Sharper Image Corp, Lillian Vernon Corp, Bombay Co and Levitz Furniture Inc have all filed for bankruptcy protection as credit has become harder to obtain and consumers have cut back on purchases.

Asking-rent growth at neighborhood and community shopping centers dropped to 0.4 percent in the second quarter from 0.5 percent in the first quarter and 0.8 percent a year earlier, Reis said.