Tag: COVID-19

July 2020 Retail Sales – Welcome news, but less than it seems

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The Census Bureau reported almost shocking economic news last week: retail sales now exceed pre-pandemic levels. Retail sales including restaurants amounted to a record $536 billion on a seasonally-adjusted basis, up 1.2% over January. This volume is a remarkable achievement, especially considering that unemployment still exceeds 10% – down from its pandemic peak, but still …

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Category: Economy, Real Estate Research, Retail, Uncategorized

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Initial vs. Continuing Unemployment Claims: A Distinction with the Very Big Difference

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The employment news is bad enough without reporters and pundits exaggerating the grim trends. Almost 39 million initial claims for unemployment have been filed since mid-March when the COVID-19 pandemic really started taking hold of the economy. It is probably fair to conclude that “Nearly 39 million have lost jobs in US since virus took …

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Category: COVID-19, Economy, Jobs, Uncategorized

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The Coronavirus, the End of the Cycle, and U.S. Commercial Property Markets: Early Thoughts

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The coronavirus has seized the global economy. With the number of confirmed cases globally and in the U.S. growing by about one-third per day – that is, doubling every three days – a broad range of economic activity is rapidly shutting down, either by fiat or collapsing consumer demand, dramatically compounding the supply chain disruption …

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Category: COVID-19, Economy, Property Investment, Real Estate Research, Uncategorized

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