Dees Stribling
Economy Watch: Suburban Office Markets Showing Strength
While downtown markets are still out-performing the suburbs, the gap in vacancy is shrinking in many places across the country as the U.S. suburban office market continues to tighten, according to CBRE’s latest office market report.
Economy Watch: Small Business Optimism Still Strong
Since last November, small business owners have been feeling confident about their prospects, which could lead them to take on more office and industrial space as they expand, according to the National Federation of Independent Business’ latest economic trends report.
Economy Watch: Nonresidential Building Still in Growth Mode
The Dodge Momentum Index’s March increase was largely due to a bump in institutional project planning for the month, Dodge Data & Analytics recently reported.
Economy Watch: Higher Wages, More Borrowing Bode Well for Economy
The latest jobs and wage growth numbers seem to point to the U.S. economy’s continued growth, supported by a boost in consumers’ borrowing activity, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve.
Economy Watch: Economy Adds Just Short of 100K Jobs in March
A decline in retail employment was a key factor that kept job growth low in March, with the sector losing 30,000 jobs for the month, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.
Economy Watch: Fed Likely to Keep Raising Rates, Reduce MBS Holdings
Though not definite, the Federal Open Market Committee’s latest meeting notes hint that the Fed is sticking with its plans to make borrowing more expensive, while reducing the size of its $4.5 trillion balance sheet later this year.
Economy Watch: Jobs, GDP Still Expanding
Automated Data Processing and the Federal Reserve Bank recently released reports indicating strong economic growth is continuing in the U.S.
Economy Watch: Driven by Residential, Construction Spending Enjoys February Gain
Both private and public spending were up for the month and from the same time last year, according to the Census Bureau’s latest report.
Economy Watch: Ten-X Reports CRE Prices Leveling Off
The robust growth that characterized most of 2016 largely slowed down by the end of the year, with property valuations climbing just 0.5 percent since November, according to Ten-X’s latest Commercial Real Estate Nowcast.
Economy Watch: Construction Companies Fairly Confident About the Future
Optimism among U.S. construction contractors dipped in the second half of 2016, but the majority of them still expect to see growth this year, according to the Associated Builders and Contractors’ latest Construction Confidence Index.