For a PDF version of this news release, including data table, follow this link:
www.bcrea.bc.ca/news_room/2011-02-28CLI.pdf.

For immediate release

BC Commercial Real Estate Market to Strengthen

Vancouver, BC – February 28, 2011. The BC commercial real estate market should continue to strengthen through 2011, according to the new Commercial Leading Indicator (CLI) index developed by the British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA). The BCREA CLI rose 2.3 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2010 to an index level of 110.5, marking seven straight quarters of improvement.

The CLI peaked at a level of 115.9 in the second quarter of 2007 before the onset of the financial crisis pushed it to a low of 100.1 in the first half of 2009. In 2010, the index posted a more material recovery, albeit from a relatively weak level, and is still 5.3 per cent below its peak.

“Economic indicators that tend to lead activity in the commercial real estate market have posted strong growth over several consecutive quarters,” said Brendon Ogmundson, BCREA Economist. “Based on these macro-level indicators, we would anticipate 2011 to be a strong year for the commercial sector.”