Blog #q2 2024

GDP Growth: Q2 2024

• U.S. GDP grew at a 2.8% annual rate in Q2, up from 1.4% in Q1.
• Growth driven by increased consumer spending, business investment, and inventory growth.
• Consumer spending rose by about 2%, especially in health care, housing, recreation, and durable goods.
• Business investment increased, particularly in equipment and intellectual property.
• Inventory growth was notable in wholesale and retail trade, offset by declines in mining, utilities, and construction.
• Gross domestic purchases prices increased by 2.3%, down from 3.1% in Q1.
• Excluding food and energy, prices increased by 2.5%, down from 3.3% in Q1.
• Personal consumption expenditures price index increased by 2.6%, compared to 3.4% in Q1.
• Current-dollar personal income increased by $237.6 billion, down from $396.8 billion in Q1.
• Real disposable personal income growth slowed, and the personal saving rate decreased to 3.5%.

Employment: Q2 2024

• 206,000 jobs added in June, with a slight rise in the unemployment rate to 4.1%.
• Labor force participation rate increased to 62.6%, driven by prime-age workers.
• Wage growth slowed, with average hourly earnings rising 0.3% from May and 3.9% year-over-year.
• Job growth mainly in government and healthcare sectors.
• Private sector payrolls slowed, with gains in construction offset by declines in manufacturing.
• Job openings rose to 8.14 million in May, but a cooling trend is expected.

Monetary Policy: Q2 2024

• Federal Reserve left the overnight federal funds rate unchanged.
• Potential for at least one interest rate cut in 2024 remains.
• Disinflation resumed, with CPI inflation falling to 3.3% in May.
• FOMC held rates steady, awaiting further evidence of returning inflation to the 2% target.
• Financial markets expect a 0.25% rate reduction in September.
• Labor market showed better balance between supply and demand, with nominal wage increases trending down.

Global Economy: Q2 2024

• IMF forecasted global growth at 3.2% for 2024 and 3.3% for 2025.
• U.S. growth revised to 2.6% for 2024, slowing to 1.9% in 2025.
• Euro area expected to see modest growth driven by services and net exports.
• Japan's growth outlook revised downward due to supply disruptions and weak investment.
• Stronger activity in emerging markets, especially China (5% growth forecast for 2024) and India (7%).
• Latin America faced downward revisions for Brazil and Mexico due to natural disasters and moderating demand.
• Middle East and Central Asia impacted by oil production cuts and regional conflicts, with notable downward revisions for Saudi Arabia and Sudan.

• Development pipeline down 57% year-over-year
• Vacancy rates up 48%
• Lease rates adjusted by 28%
• Tenant activity has resumed in the Inland Empire West industrial market
• Historic levels of positive net absorption in the submarket
• Multiple 1-million-square-foot lease transactions executed by credit tenants
• Nearly 5 million square feet of move-ins from big-box deliveries with prior year leases
• Inland Empire continues to attract institutional capital
• Class A 835,000 square foot building sold for nearly $200 million

• Leasing Activity: 2.3 million square feet (MSF) of industrial space leased this quarter, up by 1.03 MSF from the previous quarter.
• Vacant-Availability Rate: Dropped by 0.4% from last quarter to 4.2%, but still 2.8% higher than last year.
• Market Trends: Increase in vacant-available space due to tenants returning unused space since 2023.
• Asking Lease Rates: Declined to $1.71 (direct) and $1.68 (overall) per square foot (PSF), though still 40%+ higher over the last five years. Class A spaces aim for $2.00+ PSF.
• Tenant Behavior: Tenants are more selective and pushing for rental concessions, with landlords becoming more negotiable.
• Net Absorption: Positive for sublet space (525,417 square feet) but overall net absorption negative at -539,467 square feet.
• Sales Volume: $51 million across 9 transactions in the South Bay, with average building prices at $288.61 PSF and land values at $143.79 PSF.
• Capitalization Rates: Increasing due to higher capital costs, forcing sellers to adjust prices.
• Interest Rates: Around 6.5% for fixed, 25-year owner-occupier loans.
• Insurance Challenges: Rising premiums and providers exiting the California market.
• Property Values: Some industrial areas affected by homelessness and vagrancy, impacting property and rental values.

·  Tenant demand in Orange County slowed in the first half of the year. 

·  Vacancy rate increased from 1.9% at the end of 2022 to 4.4%. 

·  Leasing activity decreased. 

·  Rent growth has flattened after over a decade of steady double-digit annual growth. 

·  Negative net absorption of 799,275 SF in Q2 and negative 2.1 million SF in Q1. 

·  Total decline in the past six quarters exceeds 5 million SF. 

·  Long-term average vacancy rate since 2020 is 4.5%. 

·  Tenants face less competition for space. 

·  Landlords are offering more lease concessions. 

·  Largest sale in Q2: 278,572-SF Fullerton building sold for $338 per SF by American Realty Advisors to Rexford Industrial Realty.