Weekly Perl: A Commercial Real Estate News Recap
Global forecasting group sees U.S. inflation at 4.2% this year, much higher than Fed estimate
The Iran war and its impact on the global energy market will keep headline U.S. inflation this year well above the Federal Reserve’s projections, possibly necessitating policy action, according to a key global policy group.

In its periodic update of economic conditions, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development forecast all-items inflation in the U.S. to be at 4.2% for 2026...
Datassential report reveals top 25 emerging restaurant chains
When it comes to the next generation of restaurant growth, focused concepts are scaling faster and global cuisines is continuing to gain momentum.
That’s according to Datassential’s Top 25 Emerging Chains report, which highlights the restaurant concepts that are rapidly growing across the United States. The ranking is part of the food and beverage company's flagship Datassential 500 report, which tracks performance and innovation across the most influential restaurant brands nationwide. (Top 10 emerging chains listed at end of article...)
Retail Productivity Rises as Luxury Malls Outpace Sector
Luxury Malls See Strong Sales Growth

Retail productivity at leading US malls is surging, especially at luxury-focused centers, reports Globe St. Simon Property Group’s assets, such as Roosevelt Field near New York City, report occupancy rates above 96% and sales reaching up to $1,250 PSF. Brookfield’s GGP division also saw sales per square foot at premier properties rise 60% since 2019. These gains are largely attributed to affluent consumers, who now account for nearly half of all retail spending...
Is a US recession coming? Odds jump as hidden cracks hit the economy
US recession 2026 prediction explained: Worries about a possible US recession are growing, as new data and forecasts suggest the economy may be under more pressure than it appears. While Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell recently pushed back on concerns about stagflation, economists say risks are rising due to global tensions and signs of weakness in key areas, as per a report...
Pharmacy Closures Reshape Retail Real Estate
Pharmacy closures are surging across the US, led by Walgreens, CVS, and Rite Aid. The sector’s contraction has resulted in over 2,000 sites shuttered since 2022, with more to follow. Economic pressures and shifting consumer behavior are pushing chains to trim their footprints, leaving prime corners and intersections vacant in neighborhoods nationwide, reports Urban Land...
Luxury Retailer Reversal Keeps Stores Open
Reversal on Planned Closures
According to CoStar, Saks Global will keep three luxury stores it had planned to close after talks with landlord Simon Property. The affected locations include Saks Fifth Avenue stores in Palm Desert, California, and Sarasota, Florida. The decision also keeps the Neiman Marcus store in White Plains, New York, open.
Earlier, Saks Global planned to close these stores in May as part of a broader effort. The company aimed to exit roughly two dozen Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus locations...
Net Lease Escalations Reshape Market
Escalation Clauses Replace Flat Rents
Net lease deals, once known for predictability and flat rents, are shifting toward more flexible agreements, reports Globe St. Recent leases now include regular escalation clauses, reflecting broader market volatility and efforts to hedge against inflation. Instead of “set and forget” income, net lease owners are underwriting deals more cautiously and adjusting for evolving risk profiles...
Publix has massive store planned for Miami
Publix is set to build another multi-story grocery store in Miami, according to the Miami New Times.
The 55,000-square-foot store will be located at 11380 Biscayne Blvd. and will include two levels of parking and a liquor store. The parking garage will feature 232 spaces. The Lakeland, Fla.-based grocer has filed a pre-application with Miami-Dade County for a site plan review, South Florida Business Journal reports. Allequez Architecture is designing the project...
Report: Nothing Bundt Cakes to be Acquired for $2 Billion
Global private equity firm KKR has agreed to buy Nothing Bundt Cakes for over $2 billion, according to the Wall Street Journal and Reuters.
Reuters reported in late October that parent company Roark Capital—also the owner of Inspire Brands, GoTo Foods, Subway, and Dave’s Hot Chicken—was exploring a sale of the dessert brand. Roark purchased Nothing Bundt Cakes in 2021 from Levine Leichtman Capital Partners.
The publication previously stated the brand expects to generate $120 million in EBITDA this year...
Slim Chickens Emphasizes Discipline to Power Next Phase of Growth
Mattress seller Sleep Number has sounded the alarm that it may be forced to file for bankruptcy, possibly joining the growing number of retailers that have sought Chapter 11 protection this year.
The Minneapolis-based company, with a fleet of 600 stores, issued the warning in a recent securities filing after reporting fourth-quarter earnings. The retailer said in its 10-K that if it can't secure sufficient financing, it "could be forced to terminate, significantly curtail or cease our operations, pursue strategic alternatives or commence a case under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code..."
