Torto

LAS VEGAS-"Putting it in perspective" might have been a fitting title for a presentation here Wednesday by CBRE chief global economist Raymond Torto and Americas chief economist Asieh Mansour. The two presented their views on the economy, and the implications of economic forces for real estate, at the CBRE inaugral 2011 Americas Summit, where Los Angeles-based CBRE is hosting thousands of commercial real estate owners, occupiers, investors and service professionals this week.

Mansour focused on the US economy, while Torto addressed the European and other international economies. In summary, they pointed to some encouraging signs in the US economy and doubted that we will slide into recession, were less optimistic about Europe's economy and had promising things to say about the economies of leading nations in Asia and Latin America. Torto and Mansour made it clear, however, that significant risks remain for the US economy and that a recession is a possibility, although it would likely be more of a "technical recession" and milder than the events of 2008.

Mansour