Dees Stribling
Economy Watch: Retail Sales Dip in January
The monthly drop is in contrast to December, when adjusted sales were up 0.4 percent compared with the month before, the Census Bureau reported.
Economy Watch: Roundtable Survey Offers Mixed Outlook
By D.C. Stribling Commercial real estate executives are optimistic on the whole about the economy and the real estate market in 2018, but express some caution about 2019, according to the Real Estate Roundtable’s Q1 2018 Economic Sentiment Index. Released late last week, the index is based on a survey of 47 named executives and experts, as well as other anonymous participants. The Roundtable’s Q1 2018 Sentiment Index came in at 54, a one point increase from the last quarter of 2017. The Current Conditions Index, at 57, represented an increase of four points from the previous quarter. The Future…
Economy Watch: Office Sector Faces Softening, Ten-X Commercial Predicts
Demand remains tepid, despite employment growth that tops previous expansions. Ten-X Commercial also identifies the office sector’s top “buy” and “sell” metros.
Economy Watch: Healthy Retail Sales Growth Ahead in 2018, NRF Predicts
The retail sector should see a boost in sales growth this year, topping 2017’s 3.9 percent growth, according to the firm’s latest economic forecast.
Economy Watch: Nonresidential Building Planning Slips in January
Despite a decrease in the Dodge Momentum Index for the month, the index is 7.7 percent higher than a year ago, suggesting nonresidential building construction should continue to post gains in 2018.
Economy Watch: Non-Manufacturing Sector Expands
Recent reports from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Institute for Supply Management suggest that most U.S. businesses are still hiring workers at a stable rate, and the labor market isn’t overheated.
Economy Watch: U.S. Economy Creates 200K Jobs in January
Employment rose in some real-estate related sectors, such as construction, food services and drinking places, health care and manufacturing, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report.
Economy Watch: Americans to Spend More on the Super Bowl This Year
While projected viewership is the same as last year, total spending is expected to be up 8.5 percent from 2017, according to a recent survey from the National Retail Federation and Prosper Insights & Analytics.
Economy Watch: CA Real Estate Execs More Optimistic About Industry
A strong belief that recent tax reform will benefit commercial real estate has encouraged many market participants to feel more optimistic about the industry’s future than they did six months ago, according to the latest Allen Matkins/UCLA Anderson survey.
Economy Watch: US GDP Slows in 4Q
GDP growth was slower than in the second and third quarters of 2017, but still finished off the year above 2 percent.