Dive Summary:

• According to Reis Inc., a New York City-based research firm, during the first quarter of 2013 the average vacancy rate at all neighborhood and community shopping centers declined by 30 basis points compared to the same time in 2012.
• “We are still talking about marginal improvement. We really have to get into the middle of this decade before we start to see anything substantial, said Ryan Severino, Reis’ senior economist.
• Figures released by Colliers International show that asking rents raised $0.03 per sq. ft. between the fourth quarter of 2012 and the first quarter of 2013.

From the article:

“By 2014-2015, you’ll see the economy in a much better place, a lot of the debt overhang that we are dealing with will be resolved,” he says. “Assuming that we don’t end up with some massive idiosyncratic shock to the system, we’ll be in a much better position.”