Robust GDP growth, wage rises and price inflation are the drivers of retail sales across the CEE region, says Colliers International in its latest research report. Key findings of the report include:

GTC currently has 6 projects under construction with over 145,000 sqm GLA. The company also has 6 projects in the planning stage with over 143, 000 sqm of office space and 61,000 sqm of retail space, in addition to 2 extensions of existing projects for 5,100 sqm. GTC presented its Q3 2017 financial results.

Investment flows into the CEE-6 region’s commercial real estate markets rose 12% y-o-y in the first nine months of 2017. The €7.6 billion closed deal total coupled with a still full pipeline of deals under consideration suggests that the annual cycle high of €12.2 billion invested last year is likely to be matched or overhauled. Substantial growth in Czech and Bulgarian volumes were the drivers of the momentum in the January-September 2017 period, says Colliers International in its latest report.

Albanian company Balfin Group has acquired a 155 000 sqm plot of land, 1.5 km from the centre of Skopje. The company plans to develop the first mixed-used real-estate development project in excess of 250,000 sqm gross build area, estimated to be largest private investment of this type in Macedonia. The development plans include a new 45 000 sqm gross leasable area shopping mall, residential block and an office park. The overall total investment of the company is planned to be circa €180 million over a time-span of 5-7 years, with €100 million investment in first phase, creating thousands of new jobs and opportunities. The company states that the shopping mall will be developed first, and the apartments and office towers over the next 5-7 years.

The Bulgarian property market is booming with the total transaction volume expected to exceed €1 billion in 2017. The outlook for the future is highly positive: strong demand, underpinned by solid economic growth, encourages developers to start new projects in all segments of the market.

Residential markets are on the rise all over Europe. There are barely any countries where prices haven’t begun to increase since the crisis. Property Forum took a closer look at the Central and Eastern European region, to see which countries have seen the highest growth. Croatia is one of the countries where prices began to grow later rather than sooner, but this means that it may become a new hotspot for investors looking to profit from house price growth in the region.

BKA development has won a tender to acquire the former Depo retail complex in Belgrade, beograd.rs reports. The Serbian company placed the highest bid of €4.15 million for the complex located in the Vracar area of the capital.

Labour force is the key factor for auto player’s location decision-making process - says Colliers International in its latest research. The auto producers and component suppliers sector is very important in CEE industrial and is growing. Auto exports ranged from 4.7% of total exports in 2015 in Bulgaria, upwards to 28.0% in Hungary and 34.6% in Slovakia, growing at a regionally-weighted annual rate of 7.4% in the period 2010-2015.

Following the completion of piling works, Belgrade Waterfront announced the official start of structural works on BW Galerija, which represents the biggest shopping and lifestyle destination in Serbia and the region. The structural works contract was awarded to Gradina. Opening is scheduled for 2020.

Through its subsidiary NEPI Rockcastle has acquired Paradise Center in Sofia, Bulgaria from BULFELD EOOD for €252.9 million, resulting in an acquisition yield of approximately 7%. The transaction will be effective upon obtaining approval of the Bulgarian Competition Authority.