CB Richard Ellis published its Research’s semi-annual Global MarketView/Office Occupancy Costs survey that tracks world markets.
London’s West End and Moscow remain the world’s two most expensive office markets, respectively, while Hong Kong’s CBD, Tokyo’s Inner Central District and Mumbai’s Nariman Point round out the top five, according to CB Richard Ellis Research’s semi-annual Global MarketView/Office Occupancy Costs survey. The report tracks world markets with the highest as well as fastest-growing occupancy costs for the 12 months ended September 30, 2008.
The average rate of growth for office occupancy costs among the 172 markets monitored in the survey was 8%, almost double last year’s world inflation rate. Up 94.6%, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) had by far the fastest growing occupancy costs, with three of the top five fastest growing countries situated in the Middle East. The rise in occupancy costs in the UAE over the past twelve months has reflected market fundamentals—limited supply of quality office space and high demand from international firms, primarily law firms, financial institutions and real estate and construction companies planting a footprint in the UAE.
"Our current perceptions are greatly affected by the current economic malaise and we tend to forget how fast rents and occupancy costs were rising over the last 12 months," said Dr. Raymond Torto, CBRE’s Global Chief Economist. "Clearly the rate of change is generally slowing, and in some markets the pricing direction is down. The turn in rent trajectory will provide some relief to occupiers and angst to owners. However, unlike previous downturns, which have occurred simultaneously with extensive overbuilding, the real estate market globally today is in a stronger position to weather the difficulties than in the past."
