In his science fiction comic masterpiece, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, author Douglas Adams described a book used by galactic hitchhikers who might land on new planets and face strange customs, unusual circumstances, and even grave danger. It is supposedly wildly popular. One of the reasons for this: "It has the words 'Don't Panic' printed in larger, friendly words on its cover."

That is a mantra that people participating in markets in general and in commercial real estate in specific should remember these days, as dueling information and interpretations come hurtling down.

For example, last Thursday, February 9, there were reports, like one from Bloomberg, that the interest spread between the 2-year and 10-year Treasurys had reached 86 basis points, the widest since the 1980s and, so, a sharper yield curve inversion, which is supposed to be a sign of a recession.