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China's economic slowdown worsened at the start of the second half, with industrial production expanding 4.5% in July from a year earlier, easing for the first time in three months and missing estimates. A divide has emerged between the tech sector, which is booming, and other sectors, with output of electronic equipment soaring more than 19%, while retail sales growth slowed to 0.6% and fixed-asset investment saw a decline of 6.7% in the first seven months. Economists say China's economic data continue to disappoint, with growth momentum "collapsing" outside the tech sector, and policymakers are likely monitoring the data closely to assess whether more aid is needed to ensure the government's annual growth target is within reach. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-08-17/china-s-economy-extends-slowdown-by-weakening-across-the-board?cmpid=BBD081726_NEF&utm_campaign=nef&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&utm_term=260817&utm_c
Americans are finally dressing up again and fashion brands Ralph Lauren and Tapestry, which owns the handbag maker Coach, are benefiting. They have found the “sweet spot”, according to one retail consultant, of more affordable than designer but better quality than fast fashion as the return to in-office work fuels a workwear boom and a significant decline in the activewear market. https://www.ft.com/content/8791db73-09d0-4fe9-a11e-1a9e0ce48739?emailId=dabccb91-02e2-4adf-9629-4d920aff5f84&segmentId=13b7e341-ed02-2b53-e8c0-d9cb59be8b3b&syn-25a6b1a6=1
Strain is spreading across private credit portfolios, with some of the largest funds taking writedowns and warning about problem loans as the industry faces its biggest challenge in almost a decade. The value of troubled loans held by some of the biggest private debt investors has reached levels last seen in 2017, an FT analysis has found. https://www.ft.com/content/67acde0d-4154-4332-b33b-2d03d3a86007?emailId=dabccb91-02e2-4adf-9629-4d920aff5f84&segmentId=13b7e341-ed02-2b53-e8c0-d9cb59be8b3b&syn-25a6b1a6=1
Commercial real estate investors have a new affordability warning to watch. For four straight months, consumer prices have risen faster than average hourly earnings, reducing the purchasing power that supports apartment rent payments, retail spending and, ultimately, property-level income. The latest figures underscore the problem. Consumer prices rose 3.36% year-over-year in July, while average hourly earnings increased just 3.15%. That gap may appear modest, but it means workers had less buying power after inflation for essentials including food, electricity, gasoline and shelter. For multifamily owners, the concern is straightforward: households already under pressure from high living costs have less room in their budgets for rent increases. For retail landlords and net-lease investors, weaker real income can translate into more cautious consumer spending and added pressure on tenants. https://www.globest.com/2026/08/17/wage-growth-falls-behind-inflation-and-raises-cre-affordability-concerns?utm_source=email&utm_medium=enl&utm_campaign=nationalalert&utm_c
Many large institutional investors, barred by a new 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act from buying more existing single-family homes for rent if they already own 350, have switched their strategies. They will move to buying houses built specifically to rent, which the law allows, either on their own or through joint ventures. https://www.globest.com/2026/08/17/invitation-homes-pivots-from-existing-houses-to-new-rental-construction?utm_source=email&utm_medium=enl&utm_campaign=nationalalert&utm_c
Commercial real estate's most active investment market in the first half of 2026 was not Dallas, Manhattan or Los Angeles. It was Northern Virginia, where a small number of data centers carried enough value to reorder the national rankings. https://www.globest.com/2026/08/17/cre-market-rankings-shift-as-investors-target-specialized-assets?utm_source=email&utm_medium=enl&utm_campaign=nationalalert&utm_c
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