In this episode, Jennifer Robertson sits down with renowned economist Richard Barkham, former Global Chief Economist at CBRE. Richard explains how office vacancies are beginning to stabilize and why a new office cycle may be emerging.

They explore the industrial sector’s shift toward consolidation, the impact of tariffs, and the ongoing “flight to quality”. The conversation moves to retail—now one of the healthiest CRE sectors due to limited new supply.

Richard also discusses multifamily’s strong absorption and future construction trends, as well as how slowing immigration and millions of retiring boomers could reshape labor markets, growth, and housing demand.

Music is Happy G by Mr Smith from the Free Music Archive, CC BY.

In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Richard Barkham, former Global Chief Economist at CBRE, for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of the global and U.S. economies heading into 2026. Fresh off the ANREV Conference in Singapore, Richard shares insights on investor sentiment across Asia and how regional trends connect to global capital flows.

The conversation dives deep into the U.S. outlook—covering the surprising resilience of 2025, the ripple effects of tariffs, the role of AI-driven growth, and the potential risks tied to fiscal policy and market corrections.

From manufacturing shifts and consumer strength to Fed strategy and long-term interest rate expectations, this episode offers a grounded yet forward-looking view of what may shape real estate and the broader economy in the year ahead.

Music is Happy G by Mr Smith from the Free Music Archive, CC BY.