" With the latest house price indices showing annual house price growth, it is tempting to think that everything is back to normal in the housing market. The problems of repossession, plummeting house prices and negative equity which some gloomy economists were predicting during 2008 have not come to pass. Does this mean that nothing has really changed and the British can resume their long standing love affair with owner-occupation? "

" Yields stable for three consecutive months - pre-election pause for breath or signs of concern about future rental growth prospects? This month saw the average prime yield in the UK harden from 5.77% to 5.70%, the smallest shift for 12 months.    "

" Commercial developers most optimistic about future business activity since March 2007. The overall expansion of activity in April was driven by higher private sector demand, while public sector development decreased for the second month in succession. "

" Occupier demand improves for quality premises in good locations, despite generally fragile confidence. Signs of operational resilience, with some operators reporting positive like-for-like sales growth in 2009, although at the expense of margins in some cases.    "

" “The worst is undoubtedly over for the UK economy and its retailers, but the recovery will be slow” Our turnover rents survey shows that their use is on the rise. But they remain a very selectively used tool. However, used correctly they do offer the opportunity for landlords and retailers to collaborate more closely in the future.  "

" The heat is beginning to come out of the prime markets of London, particularly in those areas which led the recovery in 2009.  Caps on bonus payments, further taxes, the forthcoming election and mixed, but primarily gloomy prospects for the economy combined will restrict transaction levels and value growth over the remainder of the year. "

" Are the Chancellor’s forecasts for economic growth achievable? Prime yields in most cases are now in line with, or below, their long term average levels. While a pickup in demand is partly responsible for this, clearly the more significant driver has been shortages of prime stock to buy.    "

" Marginal decline in UK commercial development activity in March. Firms noted that uncertainty about the economic outlook and the outcome of the forthcoming general election had weighed on market demand. "

" “Both consumer spending on leisure, and rental growth on leisure assets, have been more resilient through this downturn than in other asset classes”  "

" “We take the view that the best shops and stores are undervalued" While the investment markets remain severely constrained by the pricing and availability of finance, some signs are emerging that investor enthusiasm for better locations and covenants has increased.    "