According to Home Broker Daily, the leased surface of occupied offices in the USA increased in the last quarter of 2010. It has been the first time in three years. The rented surface increased by 232 K. sqm.as against the 14 M. sqm. loss last year.
However, the percentage of the vacant surfaces, 17.6 per cent, has remained at the same level as in the previous quarter. The year earlier, it amounted to 17 per cent. Effective office rents are remaining under pressure. In the fourth quarter they decreased from 22.43 USD, a year earlier, to 22.09 USD per square foot (approximately 0.1 sqm.). However, when compared to the third quarter the rates were much lower (22.04 USD). Asking prices have fallen from 27.79 USD to 27.53 USD. In the scale of the quarter, they increased (from 27.5 USD).
In November, in the United Kingdom, 48 K. of mortgages were granted, which is close to the 8-month minimum. However, the expectations were lower. The value of mortgage loans amounted to 11.5 B. pounds. However, the value of mortgage loans portfolio increased by 788 M. pounds.