Orchard rents fell 0.9% to $39.86 per sq ft.

Leasing activity slowed and the rental decline quickened in Q3 2016 due to continued headwinds from poor overall retail sales and online competition.

Based on rental records captured by the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s Real Estate Information System (URA REALIS) as at 18 October 2016, there were a total of 2,460 leasing deals in Q3 2016, down 12.5% quarter on quarter (QOQ) and 14.7% year on year (YOY). This was a sharp contrast to the 41.4% QOQ jump in leasing volume in Q2 2016.

According to Colliers International, the fall in leasing transactions in Q3 2016 reflected the weak sentiment in the retail sector which continued to face numerous challenges including Singapore’s weak economy, cost concerns, manpower shortages and intensifying competition from online retailers.

Moreover, although the latest available figures showed tourist arrivals stayed on the uptrend and rose 6.7% YOY in July, the retail sales index (excluding motor vehicles) contracted by 3.1% YOY and 6.5% YOY in July and August, respectively.

In light of the above, the decline in prime retail rents accelerated in Q3 2016, after slowing down in the second quarter.

In the Orchard Road sub-market, the average monthly gross rent for prime ground floor shopping mall space contracted by 0.9% QOQ from SGD40.21 per sq ft in Q2 2016 to SGD39.86 per sq ft in Q3 2016. This is faster than the 0.5% QOQ slide in Q2 2016.

Likewise, the rate of rental decline picked up pace in the Regional Centres.

The average monthly gross rent for prime ground floor shopping mall space reached SGD33.38 per sq ft, after falling by 0.8% QOQ in Q3 2016. In comparison, rents fell by 0.3% QOQ in Q2 2016.