The U.S. office market is beginning to recover despite the broader economy presenting uncertain and mixed signals. Here’s a quick breakdown of the key takeaways from the latest Office Space Demand Forecast released by the NAIOP Research Foundation.
At NAIOP’s I.CON East conference last week in New Jersey, former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo delivered a candid assessment of the U.S. economy: strong at its core but held back by what she called “self-inflicted wounds.” Despite global leadership in innovation and artificial intelligence, and a resilient tech sector, she warned that uncertainty, policy inconsistency, and trade disruptions are clouding near-term growth.
Former U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo shared insights on economic policy, trade and American competitiveness in a candid conversation at NAIOP’s I.CON East last week in New Jersey, touching on both her personal journey and the broader challenges facing the U.S. economy.
An all-star panel of East Coast industrial developers and investors wrapped up NAIOP’s I.CON East with a candid look at market dynamics across the Eastern U.S., exploring where capital is flowing, key macroeconomic influences on the sector, and the markets’ primary challenges and opportunities.
Emerging generations bring distinct expectations around company culture, technology adoption and the vital role of mentorship in career development. At I.CON East, rising generations shared their insights and perspectives on the future of the evolving CRE sector.
As global trade routes evolve and supply chains adapt to new realities, East Coast ports are stepping into a more prominent role. At NAIOP’s I.CON East conference this week in Jersey City, New Jersey, logistics and port experts outlined how infrastructure investments, intermodal connectivity, and changing sourcing strategies are driving industrial growth along the Eastern Seaboard.
“In 35 years as an economist, I’ve only seen uncertainty like this twice before: during the global financial crisis and in the middle of the pandemic,” said Moody’s Chief Economist Mark Zandi, addressing a full room at this week’s NAIOP National Forums Symposium in New Orleans. “These are highly uncertain times.”
The U.S. industrial real estate market experienced a significant slowdown in 2024, marking the lowest annual net absorption rate since 2011, according to the bi-annual NAIOP Industrial Space Demand Forecast that was published in March.
Supply chain dynamics, increased demand for “just-in-case” products, and a shift in where goods are assembled are three key drivers in a movement toward growing the manufacturing sector closer to home. NAIOP hosted an executive summit this month in Scottsdale, Arizona, to explore challenges and opportunities, and to hear from the developers, end users and experts who are influencing the trend and shaping the future.
At NAIOP’s Nearshoring/Onshoring Summit this week in Scottsdale, Arizona, keynote Shannon O’Neil explored globalization myths, trends in global trade, manufacturing in China and Mexico, and more. O’Neil is the vice president, deputy director of studies, and Nelson and David Rockefeller senior fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
