"Demand for office space remained strong across the country," says Ward Caswell, CBRE's Boston-based director of research for the US. CBRE registered 17 million sf of positive absorption in the second quarter, 14 million sf of which occurred in the suburbs. Even so, CBD vacancies averaged 10.6% compared to 13.7% in the suburbs, with each indice dipping by 20 basis points in the second quarter to reach the lowest level since late 2001. The blended US average vacancy was 12.6%, also down 20 basis points from the first quarter.

Caswell cited the growing economy for driving the suburban activity, and termed the velocity "welcome news to landlords in the face of expected construction." While completions of new space in the second quarter was just 1.5 million sf for downtown markets, and was delivered mainly in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., the suburbs had 10.1 million sf come on line, with more headed for completion through 2008.

On the suburban front, Florida dominated in tightest vacancy rates, led by Miami at 6.5%. That submarket was followed by 7.0% for Fort Lauderdale and 7.7% in Orlando. San Jose, CA, was fourth tightest at 8.4%, just beating out the 8.5% outcome for Los Angles. There were few quarter-over-quarter vagaries for suburban vacancy rates, as the greatest decline was found in Cincinnati where the level dipped 2.1% to 18.5%, followed by Columbus, OH, which had a decline of 1.7% to 19.3%. Downtown swings were far more dramatic, including a 5.6% drop in San Jose and a 3.8% slide for Tucson, AZ, to 12.2%. Houston had the third largest drop, falling 2.5% to 11.9%.