US consumer inflation steady before Iran conflict drives up oil prices WASHINGTON, March 11 (Reuters) - U.S. consumer prices rose moderately in February as rents maintained a steady pace of increases, though households paid more for gasoline and at the supermarket and higher costs are in store because of the escalating war in the Middle East .  The Consumer Price Index report from the Labor Department on Wednesday, which also showed underlying inflation muted ​last month, covered the period before the U.S. and Israel launched strikes against Iran. The attacks at the end of February were met with retaliation by Tehran and have boosted oil prices...

By Marc Perlof | MarcRetailGuy CA #01489206 March 9, 2026 If you own retail real estate, here’s what just changed for you. If you own retail property, the biggest change happening in today’s market is not rent levels or cap rates. It is capital. More specifically, the speed at which investment capital is being raised and deployed into retail deals. As a retail real estate agent focused on investment sales, I am seeing this shift in real time. Investors still want retail assets. But the capital behind those buyers is moving more cautiously than it did a few years ago. That change affects pricing, buyer competition, and how quickly deals close. Over the past year I have seen buyers take longer to raise equity and move deals forward. According to the 2024 Global Private Markets Report from McKinsey & Company, fundraising cycles for private real estate funds have lengthened and investors are taking more time to commit capital as they reassess risk and portfolio allocations.¹ This does not mean capital has disappeared. It means capital is moving more carefully. Retail investment activity reflects this new discipline. According to Marcus & Millichap’s 2025 U.S. Retail Investment Forecast, national retail vacancy remains near historic lows, generally ranging between approximately 4 percent and 5 percent depending on the quarter and reporting method.² Low vacancy continues to attract investors to retail assets, but they are underwriting deals more conservatively. Another key trend is the concentration of capital toward stronger assets and stronger sponsors. CBRE’s U.S. Real Estate Market Outlook reports that investors are prioritizing properties with durable tenant demand and stable income streams as uncertainty around interest rates and refinancing conditions persists.³ In practical terms, this means retail syndicators and private investors must raise capital more carefully and explain risk more clearly before closing acquisitions. Limited partners want to understand tenant durability, lease rollover risk, and income stability before they commit equity. Several trends are driving this capital caution. Investors are performing deeper underwriting before committing equity to retail acquisitions.¹ Retail vacancy remains low nationally, which keeps investor interest in the sector even while capital formation slows.² Institutional and private investors are prioritizing assets with stable tenants and predictable income streams.³ For retail property owners, this shift matters. When capital raising slows, the pool of active buyers becomes more selective. Properties with stable tenants, longer lease terms, and predictable income attract the deepest buyer interest. Properties with near-term lease rollover, weaker tenants, or uncertain cash flow may still sell, but buyers will price in more risk. That can affect value expectations and negotiation leverage. This is why understanding how investors are raising capital today is critical before bringing a retail property to market. A well-positioned asset with the right story can still attract strong buyer demand. But the strategy behind the sale matters more than ever. If you own retail real estate and want to understand how today’s capital markets affect the value of your property, let’s talk. If you are considering selling in the next 12–24 months, understanding how buyers are raising capital today can have a direct impact on your exit price. If investors are raising capital more slowly and underwriting deals more carefully, how would your property perform under the scrutiny of today’s buyers? #RetailRealEstate #RetailPropertyInvesting #CommercialRealEstate #RetailInvestmentSales #CRECapitalMarkets #RetailSyndication #RetailPropertyOwners #CommercialPropertyInvesting #RetailAssetManagement #CREInvestors #ValueAddRetail #RetailPropertyStrategy