Category: Global Insights

How Importing and Exporting Impacts the Economy

Overseas products or imports provide more choices to consumers. They help them manage their strained household budgets because they’re usually manufactured more cheaply than any domestically produced equivalent so they cost less. It can distort a nation’s balance of trade and devalue its currency, however, when there are too many imports coming into a country in relation […]

Tariffs trigger pauses on some retail, industrial real estate deals

It’s too soon to know exactly how tariffs will impact commercial real estate. But some cracks are emerging in the U.S. retail and industrial sectors, CBRE’s Whitley Collins says. edestrians walk by an empty retail space on May 09, 2023 in San Francisco, California. Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images While it’s too soon to […]

Lendlease puts finishing touches on $316M LA apartments

The Habitat Residences is one of the developer’s last two multifamily projects underway in the U.S. An aerial rendering of the Habitat mixed-use development by Lendlease in Los Angeles. The 260-unit apartment property, left, is located next to a 253,000-square-foot office property. Property: The Habitat ResidencesDeveloper: LendleaseArchitect: SHoP ArchitectsLocation: Los AngelesUnits: 260Cost: $316 million (full mixed-use development) One of Australian developer […]

Construction costs dip, but tariffs hike some materials’ prices

Inputs declined overall in April due to falling energy prices, but steel and copper rose significantly while nonresidential costs continued their upward march. Dive Brief: Dive Insight: Although cheaper energy costs drove prices down, President Donald Trump’s tariffs are still having an impact, according to Basu. “Materials directly affected by tariffs saw sharp price increases […]

WTO slashes 2025 trade growth forecast, warns of deeper slump

GENEVA, April 16 (Reuters) – The World Trade Organization sharply cut its forecast for global merchandise trade from solid growth to a decline on Wednesday, saying further U.S. tariffs and spillover effects could lead to the heaviest slump since the height of the COVID pandemic. The WTO said it expected trade in goods to fall by 0.2% […]

2025’s top construction conferences

Construction Dive rounds up the industry conferences, expos and meetings on tap this year. As 2025 kicks into gear, contractors are planning not only their projects and goals, but which industry events and conferences they’d like to attend. To help with that effort, Construction Dive has compiled its annual list of these 2025 events, along […]

Built Environment: Going Beyond Net Zero to do More Good

The built environment is a major contributor of our planet’s total global greenhouse gas emissions, generating 38% of both embodied and operational carbon emissions.  But if we look at what the built environment is and the breadth of what it encompasses, we can see the potential impact for good it has to offer. The built […]

China’s manufacturing dominance a challenge for companies looking to diversify, but Red Sea Crisis reinforcing the importance of supply chain resilience

Diversification will take time, but the opportunities for Southeast Asia are great The allure of China’s experienced talent pool, established supply chains and robust infrastructure is making it difficult for companies looking to diversify their manufacturing operations to other Asia Pacific locations, but opportunities remain for the region and the need to diversify is growing, […]

Strength Through Diversification: Opportunities Across Asia Pacific

ACCESS THE REPORT External Link Opportunities across Asia Pacific Like other commercial real estate sectors, the industrial sector globally has been buffeted by a variety of headwinds and tailwinds over the past few years. Notwithstanding these near-term fluctuations, the underlying driver for the sector in Asia Pacific is one of growth and expansion. This is being […]