Dees Stribling
Economy Watch: Construction Spending Edged Up in February
A considerable drop in public construction spending brought down the overall increase for the month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Economy Watch: CRE Prices Up in March, Except Industrial
Gains in four of the five property segments were enough to outweigh a 0.5 percent decline in the industrial pricing, according to Ten-X’s March Commercial Real Estate Nowcast.
Economy Watch: Consumer Sentiment Hits 14-Year High
Despite some uncertainty about the impact of proposed trade tariffs, U.S. consumers were more optimistic in March, according to the University of Michigan’s latest report.
The New Age of Hotel Amenities
In this age of potential disruptors, the hotel industry is using its current prosperity to experiment with amenities that attract Millennials.
Economy Watch: GDP Grew Faster Than Previously Reported in 4Q
The Bureau of Economic Analysis’ final estimate for fourth-quarter 2017 GDP came in at an annualized rate of 2.9 percent, reflecting stable economic growth.
Economy Watch: Chinese Investment in US CRE Plunges
Following the Chinese government’s announced restrictions on outbound capital flow, the country’s investments in U.S. commercial real estate dropped significantly in 2017, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s 2017 China-U.S. Inbound Investment Capital Watch report.
Economy Watch: Chicago Fed National Activity Index Swings Upward
All categories of indicators that make up the index increased from January to February, pointing to above-average growth for the month, the Chicago Fed reported.
Economy Watch: NABE Forecasts Strong Economic Growth in 2018-2019
Economic growth in 2018 is expected to be stronger than the 2.3 percent annual GDP growth rate in 2017, according to the latest NABE Outlook.
Economy Watch: The Most Innovative States of 2018
States that come out on top of the list also tend to have hot office markets in some of their metros, fueled by demand from tech and other innovation-oriented firms, a WalletHub study reported.
Economy Watch: Architecture Billings Growth Modest in February
The news from the AIA comes as the Federal Open Market Committee raised interest rates, effectively increasing the cost of money.