COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE'S ECONOMIC ADVISORS

National rents rose 1.2% year-over-year in February, down from 1.4% in January and 1.6% in December, marking a continued slowdown from the modest re-acceleration observed in late 2024. While rent growth remains positive, the trend has clearly softened, reflecting ongoing supply pressures and a normalization in demand following the post-pandemic surge.

This week’s Rental Housing Weekly Briefing examines apartment market conditions via NMHC’s latest quarterly survey, alongside new Chandan Economics-RentRedi data showing continued improvement in mom-and-pop rent collections.

April 2026 Rental Payment Trends: Collections Improve, Late Payments Remain Elevated

New research shows renters accounted for nearly 80% of household growth in 2025, while the latest Beige Book points to a resilient but increasingly cautious US economy.

CPI inflation ticks higher in March while NAHB’s Remodeling Market Index signals continued expansion, with forward-looking indicators softening. This week’s Rental Housing Weekly Briefing breaks down what it means for housing demand and investment conditions.

The War in the Middle East has undoubtedly raised fears over inflation pressures and shaken up interest rate projections since it began. Still, it appears that markets are at least marginally more optimistic about its impact now than immediately after the war's outbreak.

A data-driven look at where remote work has declined and expanded across US metros since 2021, revealing a sharp pullback in major office markets and continued growth across the Southeast.

Rental housing trends show rising multifamily CMBS delinquencies and moderating home price growth, highlighting ongoing capital markets pressure and shifting housing dynamics.

NYC rent growth remained resilient in early 2026, with Manhattan leading year-over-year gains and Brooklyn continuing to drive short-term momentum across the boroughs.