The U.S. economy has remained surprisingly resilient, but persistent inflation, a cooling labor market, rising government debt, and a massive wave of AI investment are creating a far more complicated outlook for investors.

This week, Jennifer sits down with economist Richard Barkham to examine the major macro forces shaping the second half of 2026 and what they could mean for commercial real estate. Richard shares his perspective on why inflation may remain structurally higher in a more fragmented global economy, how tariffs and labor constraints are affecting prices, and why rising government debt is increasingly showing up in Treasury yields and real estate pricing.

We also unpack the extraordinary scale of AI investment in the United States, its role in supporting economic growth, and the possibility that rapid development coul ...