“Ignore the Dow. Focus on the fundamentals.”
That’s Cushman & Wakefield’s sanguine advice in its latest “U.S. Macro Report,” in which the real estate services giant offers a bullish forecast about America’s economy, as well as the investment climate for real estate construction and transactions.
C&W provides a positive spin on investors’ two main concerns right now: the impact of China’s slower economic growth and tumbling global oil prices. The report points out that U.S. direct investment in China is currently $65 billion versus the $6 trillion the U.S. has invested globally. Only 9.2% of U.S. exports are sent to China, and exports account for only around 10% of all goods and services produced within the country. “The macroeconomic consequences of a hard landing in China tend to be overstated,” says C&W, which believes that China’s GDP growth could fall below 3% (it was 6.9% in 2015, a 25-year low) without causing a recession in the U.S.
Oil price erosion is a more significant threat to C&W’s baseline outlook, the report concedes. But it believes that declines in oil prices are ultimately a net positive for the U.S. economy because those declines spur increased consumption. “Every penny decline in retail gasoline prices adds more than $1 billion to consumer spending over the course of the year, according to Moody’s Analytics,” states the report. Its forecast calls for oil prices to average just over $40 per barrel in 2016. “That will add about 50 extra basis points to U.S. GDP growth, creating up to 23.8 million sf in additional demand for office and industrial space.”
C&W foresees a “quite healthy” 2.4% increase in U.S. GDP this year. It expects 2.6 million and 2.3 million nonfarm jobs to be created in 2016 and 2017, bringing the unemployment rate down to around 4.5%. “Wage growth and inflation should trend upwards more meaningfully at the same time, helping to buoy retail sales, consumer spending and consumer confidence.”
People are also getting their personal balance sheets in order. The household debt ratio—which measures debt affordability—is at its lowest point since 1980. Wages and total compensation rose by over 2% in 2015, the first time since 2008 those indices exceeded 2% growth.
A more confident, higher-spending consumer should benefit the industrial sector, which has enjoyed record-setting demand for warehouse and distribution space over the past few years. C&W projects that 220 million sf of space will be added this year, despite declines in manufacturing activity. “Overall vacancy will tighten further, falling from 7.5% in 2015 to 7% in 2016. This is on par with the tightest conditions ever observed in the sector; in 2000, the national vacancy rate was 6.9%,” the report states.
C&W expects that the economy will create 713,000 office-using jobs this year, and 666,000 in 2017. These estimates are slightly down from the 812,000 office jobs created last year, and C&W does expect slower aggregate demand for office space, albeit with a lag. Over the next two years, it expects 140 million sf of new office product to be delivered versus the almost 160 million sf of space that will be absorbed. “As a result, vacancy rates will continue to decline, falling from 14.2% in 2015 to 13% in 2017, the lowest annual reading since 2007.” Rent growth will accelerate to 4% this year and 4.5% next year. By 2018, new development should catch up with decelerating demand.
Positive consumer spending should also help fuel the retail sector. Net absorption is expected to average around its 2015 level (40 million sf) for the next two years, and focus on Class A product or new space. Vacancy is expected to decline from 7.7% in 2015 to 7% in 2016, and bounce below the 7% mark at times during the year.
C&W remains convinced that investors would continue to perceive the U.S. as a “safe haven” for stability and expected returns. Investors certainly showed their confidence in the U.S. economy in 2015, when investment sales volumes in the real estate sector increased by nearly 24% to $534 billion, just shy of the previous peak in 2007. “Capital markets activity is expected to be strong in 2016 and 2017 and should surpass prior peak levels assuming no major shock to the system.”
The developer acknowledges that a prolonged downturn in equity markets could short-circuit the U.S. economy, hit the consumer and end the expansion. But it doesn’t think that scenario is probable. “The fundamentals of the U.S. economy and the property markets remain on solid footing.”
Related Stories
Market Data | Nov 2, 2020
More contractors report canceled projects than starts, survey finds
Construction employment declined in most metros in latest 12 months.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 30, 2020
The Weekly show: Multifamily security tips, the state of construction industry research, and AGC's market update
BD+C editors speak with experts from AGC, Charles Pankow Foundation, and Silva Consultants on the October 29 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.
Hotel Facilities | Oct 27, 2020
Hotel construction pipeline dips 7% in Q3 2020
Hospitality developers continue to closely monitor the impact the coronavirus will have on travel demand, according to Lodging Econometrics.
Market Data | Oct 22, 2020
Multifamily’s long-term outlook rebounds to pre-covid levels in Q3
Slump was a short one for multifamily market as 3rd quarter proposal activity soars.
Market Data | Oct 21, 2020
Architectural billings slowdown moderated in September
AIA’s ABI score for September was 47.0 compared to 40.0 in August.
Market Data | Oct 21, 2020
Only eight states top February peak construction employment despite gains in 32 states last month
California and Vermont post worst losses since February as Virginia and South Dakota add the most.
Market Data | Oct 20, 2020
AIA releases updated contracts for multi-family residential and prototype residential projects
New resources provide insights into mitigating and managing risk on complex residential design and construction projects.
Market Data | Oct 20, 2020
Construction officials call on Trump and Biden to establish a nationwide vaccine distribution plan to avoid confusion and delays
Officials say nationwide plan should set clear distribution priorities.
Market Data | Oct 19, 2020
5 must reads for the AEC industry today: October 19, 2020
Lower cost metros outperform pricey gateway markets and E-commerce fuels industrial's unstoppable engine.
Market Data | Oct 19, 2020
Lower-cost metros continue to outperform pricey gateway markets, Yardi Matrix reports
But year-over-year multifamily trendline remained negative at -0.3%, unchanged from July.