Reports

Research Brief: Retail Sales – August 2020

Consumers unfazed by pandemic. Shoppers drove overall retail sales up 1.2 percent in July to a new record. However, evaporating stimulus could temper or even reverse growth in August. Ex-cluding auto and parts sales, which recorded an unexpected 4.7 percent dip month over month, retail sales advanced 1.9 percent. Despite the rise in sales, retail vacancy ticked up 20 basis points in the second quarter and further erosion is anticipated after thousands of stores announced… Read More

Research Brief: Employment – August 2020

Partial lockdowns moderate hiring in July. The labor market continued to improve last month with the addition of 1.8 million jobs, below June’s gain of 4.8 million personnel. Business closures stemming from a rise in new COVID -19 cases in some parts of the country are slowing the pace of recovery. Total employment remains 12.8 million positions short of the February level and closing that gap will take time as more temporary layoffs become permanent… Read More

Research Brief: Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – July 2020

Economy suffers most in postwar period. Gross domestic product (GDP) declined by 32.9 percent in the second quarter as businesses were closed or forced into limited operation to prevent overwhelming the nation’s healthcare system. The decline was in line with expectations and sets the stage for a recovery featuring the largest ever gain in GDP in the third quarter of this year. Although the reduction in the broadest measure of the economy highlights the depth… Read More

Research Brief: Consumer Confidence – July 2020

Stop-and-go economy reflected in consumer confidence. After surging as businesses reopened in June, the Consumer Confidence Index dipped in July as states reinstated some restrictions. The overall index is 92.6, down from 98.3 last month and 132.6 in February. July marks the fourth consecutive month the index has trended below the 100 threshold, following 44 months above the benchmark level. In addition to closures, uncertainty regarding the new level of federally supplemented unemployment benefits, a… Read More

Research Brief: Employment – July 2020

Job growth increases as economic restoration continues. The labor market recovered further in June as unemployment fell 220 basis points to 11.1 percent and 4.8 million people returned to work, the largest monthly job gain on record. While the pace of rehabilitation is accelerating, total employment still lies 9.6 percent below its pre-pandemic level with 14.7 million fewer jobs in the market than in February 2020.

Research Brief: Retail Sales – July 2020

Reopening boosts consumption last month. Consumer spending posted impressive gains for a second consecutive month as states greenlighted a wider range of businesses to resume operations. Total retail sales advanced 7.5 percent last month, building on an 18.2 percent climb in May. The increase pushed year-over-year gains into positive territory, though sales sit well below pre-health crisis levels. In addition to greater access to both service-based and traditional retailers, the magnitude of stimulus pumped into… Read More

Research Brief: Employment – June 2020

Labor market rebounds as restrictions begin to ease. Employers added 2.5 million jobs in May to bring the unemployment rate down to 13.3 percent, indicating the worst of the economic fallout may be behind us. Economic shutdowns resulted in job losses of 22.1 million in March and April, pushing the unemployment rate to 14.7 percent, the highest since 1948. While the employment gains are very encouraging, uncertainties and a long road to recovery for America’s… Read More

Research Brief: Housing – April 2020

Apartment owners benefi t from retreating home sales. The sale of existing homes in March posted the largest month-over-month decline in more than four years, retreating 8.5 percent. Yet sales are up 0.8 percent on an annual basis as properties in escrow before the shelter-in-place restrictions move through the pipeline. Purchasing is expected to continue to slow into the spring buying season due to more complicated logistics, employment uncertainty and limited inventory. These factors benefi… Read More

Research Brief: Retail Sales – April 2020

Implications of COVID-19 on retail emerge. Retail sales dropped a record 8.7 percent in March as much of the country shuttered all but essential retailers and social distancing guidelines stemmed traffic at others. Core retail sales, which exclude auto and gas, dipped 3.1 percent, highlighting the divided nature of the strain on retail. March’s figure offers a glimpse into the damage done to retailers by shutting down much of the consumer-based economy. However, April has… Read More

Research Brief: IRS – April 2020

Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code enables real estate investors to defer capital gains on income-producing property when those gains are used to acquire a like-kind investment. Colloquially, a 1031 exchange is the transaction in which an investment property is liquidated and the proceeds from the sale, including capital gains, are used to acquire additional income-producing property or properties. For the exchange to meet IRS standards, buyers have 45 days from the initial sale… Read More