Despite global trade tensions, the global economy reached an estimated growth rate of 3.8% in the first half of 2018, the fastest since 2011, driven by growing consumer spending and massive fiscal stimulus enacted in the U.S. We might even argue that trade tensions have been good for the global economy, pushing China into additional economic stimulus.
Nevertheless, in the area of trade relations, the repositioning of the U.S. continues. Tensions between the U.S. and EU have eased but continued to rise between the U.S. and China. Prospects brightened on regional trade agreements such as NAFTA (at least with Mexico) and a potential APAC deal later this year.
Despite trade uncertainties, income growth and capital appreciation in real estate generally kept up the positive momentum in line with positive economic growth. CBRE’s rent and capital value indices recorded year-over-year growth across all property types and all regions in Q2 2018, an all-around growth the market hasn’t seen since Q1 2016. Quarter-over-quarter growth prevailed in office and industrial sectors, while retail rent and capital value dropped in EMEA slightly.
The spread of real estate prime yields and government bond rates continues to narrow slowly. Capital growth has been resistant against the near-term pressure from rising interest rates. Income growth has increasingly become the return driver, particularly in the APAC office and industrial sectors.
Source: CBRE Research, Q2 2018.
The highly cyclical office sector started to experience more volatility in capital value growth, except for the APAC region, which remained in its delayed yet ongoing phase of accelerating office capital appreciation, reaching an annual growth rate of 9.6%. This is mainly due to the rising co-working space demand in East Asia, and has led to a construction surge in Southeast Asia. APAC office rental growth, 4.7% year-over-year, was the highest rental growth rate across the board in Q2 2018.
The Americas office rent and capital value growth was relatively slower, reflecting reduced labor availability and moderate but increased levels of supply. The U.S. office market is nicely balanced on occupier and investor terms.
The EMEA office market moderated after years of outstanding growth, whereas emerging markets, led by South Africa and the Nordics, gained solid footing in an office boom thanks to international business outsourcing and expansions. Both rent and capital value boasted double-digit growth in these markets throughout the first half of 2018.
Source: CBRE Research, Q2 2018.
Americas industrial continued to crown global capital value growth with 10.3% year-over-year growth, boosted by Canada’s improved logistics network and high-growth areas in the U.S. such as the San Antonio-Austin corridor, Louisville and Fort Worth. Rental growth decelerated but still appeared robust at 4.1% year-over-year. The industrial sector has shown cycle-defying resilience due to the secular shift to e-commerce in the region.
APAC industrial rent and capital value growth also showed momentum, on top of the previous e-commerce boom in the 2010 to 2014 period. This was mainly due to a drop in new completions in Q2 2018. Looking forward, the manufacturing subsector in a number of Asian economies is subject to the negative impacts of trade tensions, but growing consumer spending will help offset some of the loss.
Steady and relatively small growth persisted in the EMEA. Netherlands, Russia and South West England were the major rent and capital value growth drivers in Q2 2018. We expect the trend to continue whilst geopolitics poses a risk.
Source: CBRE Research, Q2 2018.
Slumping in the Americas retail rents came to an end. Year-over-year rent change entered the positive domain from -4.0% in Q2 2017 to 0.03% in Q2 2018. Many retailers beat second-quarter earnings expectations as structural shifts and changing business models gradually made an impact. Similarly, the APAC retail indices moved up slightly.
However, EMEA retail, which had been outperforming, saw rent and capital value growth soften as industry competition intensified, especially in the U.K., Nordics and U.A.E. We expect retail businesses continue to evolve their business models using brick-and-mortar space to connect with consumers, moving beyond merely selling.
Risk lies at the center of investment decisions, but our data suggests that trade conflict does not pose a significant threat to real estate. Positive economics and innovation are driving growth, with industrial real estate the clear leader.
