Dees Stribling
Economy Watch: Residential, Commercial Activity Up a Bit, Says Beige Book
Construction activity picked up slightly in the residential and commercial real estate industries across the 12 Federal Reserve Districts, the latest Beige Book reported.
Economy Watch: Large Banks Grow CRE Lending Faster Than Smaller Ones
In the second quarter, large banks increased their CRE loan portfolios by 2.56 percent, while medium-sized and community banks had more modest increases, according to a recent Trepp report.
Economy Watch: Economy Creates 156K Jobs in August
Job growth was not as impressive in August as in previous months, but some sectors affecting the real estate industry saw job gains, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics latest jobs report.
Economy Watch: Most Metros Enjoy Low Unemployment
Of the 388 U.S. metro areas, 340 had unemployment rates that were lower in July than a year earlier, according to a recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report.
Economy Watch: Consumer Confidence Buoyant in August
The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose again this month, which is good news for retailers that depend on optimistic consumers.
Economy Watch: US Hotels to Grow at Slower Pace in 2018
Excess supply is a major reason why 50 of the 60 top markets CBRE Hotels’ Americas Research highlighted in the firm’s latest report are projected to see a declined in occupancy in 2018.
Economy Watch: Architects Keep Busy for Sixth Straight Month
Increases in design billings across all major regions and construction sectors signal future growth in design and construction activity in the coming months, according to the American Institute of Architects’ latest Architecture Billings Index report.
Economy Watch: U.S. Suburban Office Markets Rebounding
Walkable, transit-oriented and amenity-rich office spaces in suburban markets are becoming increasingly in-demand by tenants, according to Avison Young’s mid-year office report. Landlords are responding by retrofitting and updating their properties.
Economy Watch: Consumers Feeling Good This Summer
The University of Michigan’s latest sentiment survey reveals that consumer confidence in August reached its highest level since January, indicating a positive overall outlook for the U.S. economy.
Economy Watch: Internet Sales Keep Climbing
By D.C. Stribling Since the dawn of Internet commerce, seasonally adjusted sales using that platform have moved in one direction: up. That trend continued in the second quarter, the Census Bureau reported on Thursday, with U.S. retail e-commerce sales up 4.8 percent compared with the first quarter. (Unadjusted Internet sales tend to bottom out in the first quarter and peak in the fourth, like all retail sales.) Year-Over-Year Jump As usual, the bureau adjusts for seasonal variation, but not for price changes, which have been fairly modest in recent years. Altogether, second-quarter Internet sales totaled $111.5 billion. That’s also a 16.2…