The retail market in the greater Colorado Springs area remains strong though challenged, with residents being choosier about where and how they spend amid rising retail costs driven by inflation, tariffs and global conflict, local industry experts said. Even as the cost of doing business has increased, retail vacancies have fallen across Colorado Springs, new residents and companies are still moving to the region, and closures have not widely been concentrated within specific areas or neighborhoods, said Mark Useman, a senior broker with NAI Highland, and Dan Rodriguez, a senior managing director with Colorado Springs Commercial. “Retail is tough in Colorado Springs right now, but it’s still better than what’s going on in a lot of other markets,” Rodriguez said. A sign advertises retail space for lease at the Hagerman Building on East Kiowa Street in downtown Colorado Springs on April 22.…