Investor Index November 14th
The Fundamentals Remain Strong. That’s the Message From Marcus & Millichap
According to its Q3 2025 research brief, Marcus & Millichap finds that the U.S. commercial real-estate fundamentals remain solid across key sectors, even amid broader economic uncertainty. The multifamily market is stabilising as demand growth slows while supply moderation supports healthy vacancy rates (~4.6 %). The office sector posted its sixth consecutive quarter of positive absorption, lowering vacancy to around 16.4 %. Meanwhile, industrial space—despite high vacancy (~7.8 %) driven by a decade of heavy new construction—still saw absorption in Q3. And retail remains resilient with positive absorption and below-average vacancies (~4.9 %). In short: no dramatic boom, but business continues, and the bedrock metrics of CRE are holding up.
Full Article: https://rejournals.com/the-fundamentals-remain-strong-thats-the-message-from-marcus-millichap/
Visa, Mastercard Reach Legal Pact With Merchants
Visa and Mastercard have reached a proposed settlement with U.S. merchants that could bring two decades of litigation over interchange (“swipe”) fees to a close. Under the deal, merchants would gain the right to decline certain higher-cost card variants branded by the two networks and to surcharge acceptance of some cards, while the networks would cap posted consumer credit‐card interchange rates at 1.25% for the first five years (within an eight-year term) and reduce the average effective credit rate by about ten basis points over that period. The agreement still needs final court approval (likely late 2026 or early 2027) and has drawn mixed responses: network and merchant payment-trade groups are supportive, but some merchant associations criticize it as giving too little and allowing future fee hikes by the networks.
Full Article: https://www.retaildive.com/news/visa-mastercard-legal-pact-merchants/805201/
Target Reduces Prices on 3,000 Groceries and Essentials
Target announced it will lower prices on 3,000 food, beverage and essential household items ahead of the holiday season, as many consumers face tighter budgets and concerns around grocery and everyday-cost inflation. The cuts exclude Alaska and Hawai‘i and will vary by location or online. Additionally, Target pledged a $500,000 donation to Feeding America to support hunger relief efforts amid rising food-bank demand. The move is part of a broader strategy by Target to boost value perception and draw more value-conscious shoppers during a period of economic uncertainty.
Full Article: https://www.retaildive.com/news/target-price-cuts-three-thousand-groceries-essentials/805293/