Key CPI measures resume descent. Annual growth in the headline and core consumer price indices — the latter of which omits food and energy — lowered to 3.4 and 3.6 percent in April, respectively. While bumpy inflation over the last few months curbed Wall Street expectations for near-term overnight lending [...]
The net-lease sector remains well positioned as an expectations-exceeding labor market is supporting real-term increases in retail spending. This dynamic is aiding patronage at stores and fueling retailer demand for space, with the single-tenant sector ranking as the least vacant commercial real estate segment. Should these trends continue amid a [...]
Consumer durability has sector on solid footing. Store-based retail sales in April — which exclude purchases made online and at restaurants and bars — ranked as the second-highest total on record. While inflation and consumers’ prioritization of groceries played a large role, the onset of spring also had an impact. [...]
Although the rapid rise of interest rates since March 2022 has placed pressure on real estate investors, the commercial property sector as a whole is generally well-positioned as of early 2024. Delinquency metrics trail previous highs, lenders are generally working with borrowers, and financial institutions broadly have a manageable exposure [...]
Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 1.6 percent during the first quarter of 2024. While this is a deceleration from the 3.4 percent rate from the final quarter of last year, the economy still grew in several areas. U.S. residents continued to spend robustly, with final [...]
Consistent spending and foot traffic at grocery stores over the past 24 months has the sector in a position of strength. While consolidation and increasing competition from discount retailers are concerns, regionality and strong tenant demand remain apparent. These dynamics, along with tight vacancy and limited construction, will benefit owners [...]
Consumers set a new benchmark for quarterly retail sales volume in the first three months of 2024 — roughly $1.55 trillion. Spending during the January-March span was up 3 percent when compared to the same period last year, despite slackening consumer confidence. This recent rise in spending occurred alongside consumers [...]
Unexpected Jump in Prices May Push Rate Cut Timeline Mounting costs for gasoline and electricity kept overall inflation elevated over the 12-month period ending in March. The headline CPI measure grew by 3.5 percent during the span, ticking up as the energy index moved into positive territory for the first [...]
While the 2.2 percent year-over-year gain in total core retail sales reported in February failed to match the 3.8 percent rise in core CPI, three key categories bucked this trend. Rising sales amid moderating or falling prices point to what purchases households are prioritizing amid tightening budgets. Factoring in inflation, [...]
Still-elevated inflation is leading Wall Street participants to delay expectations for the Federal Reserve to start cutting interest rates this year — shifting from spring to summer. Alongside strong hiring in the opening months of 2024, February's higher headline CPI reading contributed to the Federal Open Market Committee’s decision to [...]
