Federal Reserve lifts rates again, adjusts guidance. The Federal Open Market Committee implemented its sixth rate hike of the year on November 2, raising the federal funds rate by a fourth consecutive 75-basis-point margin. In fewer than eight months, the FOMC has taken the target range on the overnight rate from a lower bound of zero to an upper limit of 4.0 percent, the most rapid shift of interest rates since the 1980s. The Fed will continue to adjust rates up in the coming months, but the speed of these increases may slow. Language from the FOMC indicates they are closely monitoring the cumulative impact of their actions, understanding the full impact on the economy can take time to manifest. The Fed will want to see material evidence that inflation is trending back down toward the 2 percent target before the upward momentum on interest rates is abated, which leaves the door open in 2023 as to where rates will ultimately land.
Steadily climbing interest rates hold back markets from adapting. The shear magnitude and velocity of the interest rate changes over the past year have left financial and asset markets in a state of flux as investors play catch-up to the new environment. The strong performance of commercial real estate over the growth cycle that followed the Global Financial Crisis has produced substantial price appreciation, but also notable cap rate compression. These terms are no longer feasible in many cases, given notably higher financing costs. An expectations gap has formed as some investors adapt to the new conditions more rapidly than others, which is having an impact on investment sales.
Dynamic interest rate climate constraining transactions. The compounding effects of multiple interest rate hikes has made it more challenging to complete commercial real estate transactions. Preliminary figures for the third quarter show that across most major property types, trading activity has fallen below the same period last year, which was an atypically busy period across the board. In general, sales activity in recent months is short of, but close to the same quarter in 2019. Once interest rates stabilize at a new, higher plane, this consistency will help investors come to agreement and close deals more readily.