Bruzzone Strategics

Can counting shopping center cars forecast sales

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- Viewed with interest this story from MSNBC.  They used a nearby center --- Metro 280 in Colma, CA -- as an example.   Here's the story:

"This weekend, as you pull into the shopping mall parking lot for the hottest Black Friday sales, it’s entirely possible that your picture will be snapped by a satellite orbiting high above the Earth....And they’ve spotted a trend they think means this is going to be a very merry holiday shopping season..."

 Full Story

 

Pre-Christmas consumer sentiment rises

The Reuter's/University of Michigan's Consumer sentiment index rose to 69.3 in mid-November from October final of 67.7. The current conditions index jumped to 79.9 in mid-November from 76.6 at the end of October. The latest figure is the strongest since June. The expectations index improved to 62.7 from 61.9 in October.

The consumer: surprise increase in wages and salaries

From Bloombergs |  By Courtney Schlisserman - Nov 23, 2010

Wages and salaries in the second quarter climbed almost twice as much as previously estimated, indicating the U.S. economy may have created more jobs.

For U.S. commercial real estate, top tier at least shows value increase

Core Story:  Financial Times

| 23 Nov 2010 | 05:57 AM ET

SAN FRANCISCO-CA-- We rarely report on the periodic price variances but thought that this report from the Financial Times was noteworthy... keep in mind, that we have severely bifurcated markets.  The price increases reported below reflect the churning action among equity funds, REITS and advisors.  That market is improving. 

Still relatively stagnant are the lower, non-institutional markets --- which are pursued by private operators and high wealth individuals..  The lack of elaborate 1031 exchange 'trains', very tight lending standards, and continued tenant challenges has made these secondary markets less responsive.

"US commercial property prices recorded their biggest monthly gains on record in September, offering hope that the troubled market is bottoming out.

With QE2, bank lending and loan demand fail to improve

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- From the International Business Times, initial report on the Federal Reserve's 'quantitative easing' indicates little improvement in lending:

Fed chairman Ben Bernanke's promise that a new round of quantitative easing (QE) worth $600 billion will breathe life into lethargic bank lending and spur growth appears headed for doom.

A new survey by the Federal Reserve has unveiled a disappointing scenario in the credit market: New demand for loans is dropping off, housing demand remains week, more banks have tightened norms for mortgage loans and small businesses' appetite for credit is seriously dented.