Upside drivers: rates, productivity, AI

PwC’s Karl Russo and CBRE’s Henry Chin share their outlook for the U.S. economy and commercial real estate in 2026, exploring opportunities and risks to growth.

Key Takeaways:

• The U.S. economy should remain resilient in 2026.
• While the labor market finds a new equilibrium, many companies are racing to upskill and retain talent as they adopt AI processes.
• Reshoring and infrastructure improvements are expected to drive industrial growth in secondary markets.
• Data centers are positioned as a leading sector amid structural undersupply.