ORLANDO-With the new calendar year comes new predictions of a commercial real estate recovery. As the month of January winds down, the last of the predictions for 2011 are rolling in, including what George Livingston, chairman of NAI Realvest in Maitland, is calling good news for 2011 and 2012.

“Consumption—measured by Gross Domestic Product—is the main driver of economic activity," Livingston says. “Consumption is up nearly 8% over last year and this will undoubtedly lead to increased GDP growth, estimated at about 3% in 2011. That will have a positive impact on creating jobs, which ranks as the strongest economic indicator we have.”

Livingston points to economic predictors suggesting employment should increase by an average of about 150,000 jobs per month in 2011. That, he says, means more confidence in the nation's economy and higher GDP growth.