Commercial Real Estate Powers U.S. Growth | Embracing Performance Over Perception

An industry study found operating office, retail, and industrial properties across 79 US markets generated ~$610B in annual output and supported 3.9M jobs.
Those buildings covered 35.4B sq-ft across 38 states, with ~$275B in operating spending contributing ~$344B to GDP and ~$219B in personal earnings.
Construction patterns changed in 2025: data centers were ~46% of private office construction, traditional office totaled ~$48.4B, and industrial activity stayed historically high.
Beyond major metros, ongoing operations, maintenance, and improvements supported local jobs, businesses, and wages across the country, showing commercial buildings create lasting yearly activity.
Technology increasingly helped owners and managers oversee energy, water, security, access, and building performance, while retail construction activity picked up in early 2026.