10 February 2010

The level of online searches regarding commercial property in the UK recovered to in January to the level it was at before the festive slowdown according to the Property Search Index (PSI) compiled by Revolution Public Relations.

The monthly study revealed that interest levels for the industrial and distribution property were at their highest for several months whilst interest in retail property fell slightly, despite having reached its highest level for 2009 at the end of December.

Andrew Barber, of Revolution Public Relations, comments: “Interest in the UK’s commercial property sector during January, as demonstrated by users of Google search facility, returned to the same levels experienced prior to Christmas. However, it proved to be quite a volatile month with many peaks and troughs – particularly for retail. The extreme levels of interest in shops seen between Christmas and New Year was not sustained beyond the first few days of 2010 – which would seem to confirm that this spike in activity was a result of many, well-intentioned New Year resolutions.

He adds: “It might also vindicate Napoleon Bonaparte’s observation about us being a ‘nation of shopkeepers’ – or maybe he should have said a ‘nation of would-be shopkeepers’?”

Search activity in the investment and office sectors returned to levels similar to those witnessed in the autumn – which had been at reasonably constant since the summer.

Andrew concludes: “The index’s return to the levels of the previous few months seems to indicate stable levels of interest in commercial property across the board, which is a hopeful sign of a sustained recovery.”

A copy of the Property Search Index Report for January can be downloaded from here:www.revolution-pr.co.uk/psi.

Revolution Public Relations - the commercial property PR and media relations specialist.