Sales of commercial real estate assets in the US hit record-breaking highs in the third quarter, thanks largely to activity in the apartment and industrial sectors. Real Capital Analytics’ latest US Capital Trends report shows that deal volume hit $450 billion in the first three quarters of the year, a high watermark for commercial real estate generally.
Two home-improvement giants and the nation’s leading consumer electronics retailer took the top spots in an overall ranking of retail companies – as chosen by the public. Reflecting increased consumer demand for home improvement, Lowe’s was the top-performing brand overall.
Large cities, which previously dominated the list of the country’s top real estate markets, are losing their appeal as people discover they can work from anywhere, spend less, and escape dense crowds. And that has unleashed a flood of demand for smaller metro areas.
Superstores and grocery chains both posted strong gains in the third quarter, with visits climbing more than 7% over 2019 levels. A new report from Placer.ai attributes the growth to factors including a reopened retail environment, the summer shopping season and “even potentially the rise of COVID cases.”
Demand for home delivery of online grocery orders has plateaued even as retailers continue to roll out same-day delivery services. The number of online grocery customers who report using curbside pickup at least one in the last year increased to 61% on average in 2021.
