Jones Lang LaSalle

Brokerage Activity is up

The National Association of Realtors' Commercial Leading Indicator for Brokerage Activity rose to 118.9 in the first quarter, up 0.8 percent from 118 in the fourth quarter and up 2.7 from 115.7 in first quarter 2005. The fourth straight quarter of increase, with improvement in 10 of the last 11, led the association to predict further commercial brokerage growth in the next six to nine months, based on continued improvement in industrial and office net absorption, reaching between 135 million and 155 million square feet in fourth quarter 2006. It also predicted further growth in the completion of new retail, office, warehouse and lodging properties, for a total of $284.5 billion worth in the fourth quarter.