CHICAGO- The Certified Commercial Investment Member Institute issued a report this week that shows the commercial real estate industry continued to experience robust growth in 2012. The boost in activity was even more notable in the year's final quarter. The Chicago-based institute, an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®, based the report on the findings of their 13,000 members.

Commercial real estate investment sales increased for the fourth consecutive year, the institute finds, and in properties worth less than $2.5 million, increased 18 percent over the previous year's total. Perhaps most impressive was the fourth-quarter's total sales of $98 billion, the most seen in a final quarter since 2007.

"The numbers speak clearly, particularly the figures besting recession-era data, demonstrating dependable progress that investors can act upon, and fundamentals are expected to steadily improve," said George Ratiu, manager of the National Association of REALTORS® qualitative and commercial research, in a prepared statement. "With moderate gains in employment and consumer spending, absorption for office, industrial, and retail spaces will continue to grow, driving availability rates lower."