** Grocery-anchored REIT Kimco Realty's KIM.N shares rise 2.5% to $22.9 premarket

** Co posts fourth-quarter funds from operations (FFO) growth of 7.7% to 42 cents per share, meeting analysts' expectations

** High labor and material costs have deterred new construction of retail spaces while demand for locations on the back of strong consumer spending has raised lease rates and rents, helping Kimco

** The retail real estate space operator forecasts annual FFO between $1.70 per share and $1.72 per share, the mid-point of which met analysts' estimates of $1.71 per share

** KIM stock rose nearly 10% in 2024

(Reporting by Aamir Sohail in Bengaluru)

((Aamir.Sohail@thomsonreuters.com;))