Second quarter 2023 closed with a direct vacancy rate of 3.69%, an overall vacancy rate of 3.95%, and an average asking direct rental rate reported at $7.36 psf. In June, the Michigan unemployment rate was recorded at 3.6%, a decrease of 0.7 percentage points compared to this time last year, while the U.S. unemployment rate was recorded at 3.6%. Although inflation persists, interest rate hikes have remained consistent over the past year, and as employers target cost cutting measures, the labor market continues to maintain strength with fewer Americans applying for jobless benefits. 253,000 job openings occurred in April, 339,000 openings in May and a slight decrease in June to 209,000 openings, closing the quarter with 9.8 million total job openings in the U.S. In April, U.S. consumer confidence declined for the 3rd time in four months and again in May as individuals continue to become more discouraged by inflation, and by yet another increase of the key interest rate by the Federal Reserve totaling a quarter point to the highest it’s been in 16 years; however, they have indicated there may be a pause in further increases after 10 rate hikes which have had a costly impact on both businesses and consumers. Consumer price growth slowed in May rising only 0.1% from April, while mortgage rates approached a 7-month high, the quarter closes on an uneasy note as to how the remaining half of the year will unfold.