Stronger than anticipated hiring in April, together with sizable upward revisions to the February and March employment figures, have alleviated concerns that sequestration will severely impair the employment market.

Restrained discretionary spending likely induced by increased payroll taxes generated weaker than expected retail sales performance in March; a sharp drop off from the solid numbers posted in the prior two months.

As discussed in our last blog, the biggest threat to the U.S. economic recovery, and therefore the commercial real estate recovery, is the “fiscal cliff,” which encompasses the expiration of the Bush-era tax cuts as well as mandated federal spending cuts scheduled to take effect at the beginning of 2013. Left unchecked, the combination could deliver a blow to the U.S. economy equivalent to 4 percent of GDP. One can only assume or at least…

The U.S. recovery still marches along, following more of a rollercoaster trajectory rather than a straight line. The summer slowdown that started in May looked like the start of a double-dip recession to many analysts, only to post improving job and retail sales data in July, followed by disappointing job numbers in August. We have long taken the position that monthly vital signs will remain volatile as long as a high degree of global uncertainty…

Now more than ever, a market-by-market, property-by-property CRE investment strategy and long-term faith in the U.S. economy remain essential.

As the macro headwinds blow stronger, the clouds gather to create yet another summer drag on the U.S. economy in a pattern similar to the last two years. Over the past few weeks, we have seen a resurgence of European debt issues, deepening of the European economic slump and a downshift in some U.S. economic readings, particularly corporate investments, manufacturing orders and employment growth. To top it off, JP Morgan’s recent surprise outsized loss tied…

The news should not derail sound CRE investment strategies.

In the first quarter, every major property type registered positive demand trends and falling vacancies.

Continued global unrest and rising oil prices present the biggest challenges, though.

The pace of growth is unlikely to accelerate further in the short to midterm.