Interesting 2nd Half

This fall has proven to be very interesting so far.  At CCRB we are experience quite an uptick in activity, especially leasing.  Office, industrial and even retail has been more active than in the last several years, this despite the cry that "no one is doing anything until after the election".  Perhaps the big boys are waiting, but for our segment of the business, our clients can't wait, they need space now.  The expansion mode has cut across a number of industries, but more concentrated in the service area, from insurance companies, to ad agencies to the food service sector.  I attended a seminar given by CoStar that summarized office activity throughout the U.S.  They indicated that in general office activity is holding its own, growing steadily certainly by no means at a break neck speed but consistently.  Certain sub markets are growing faster than others, such as those associated with energy and technology.  It was interesting to note that New York, Manhattan is very healthy and yet across the river in New Jersey just the opposite is occurring.  Here in the Chicago area we are pretty much in the middle of the pack.  Next week I will be attending the seminar summarizing Q3 Industrial results.  Should be interesting.