Economic conditions in the last quarter of 2011 remained slow and steady across the region. Nonetheless, retail sales for most markets registered strong growth and were reported to have surged compared to 2010. International retailers continued to accelerate expansion in the Asia Pacific region, while retail rents on most mainstreets maintained their uptrend. On the backdrop of strong retail fundamentals, retail construction is thriving especially for emerging markets such as China and India. Cushman & Wakefield expects softer growth in 2012 with the outlook for the retail sector continuing to be cautiously optimistic.