North America

The US cities experienced an abrupt decline in the rate of inflation towards the end of 2008. Official figures actually show a negative inflation for March. The level of inflation observed on Mercer International basket, while not negative, confirms this trend in price movement across the US. 

The real estate market in United States has experienced a significant slow down. Market is influenced by economic factors mainly by unemployment which leads to decreases in demand and increases in supply.  The Canadian rental real estate markets have been quite stable in 2008.

South America

Buenos Aires and Caracas show high rates of inflation on Mercer international basket of goods and services, whereas in most of other Latin American cities, the level of inflation is at a comparable level to March 2008 edition. 

Most rentals markets have been healthy in South America in 2008. Buenos Aires in Argentina, Caracas in Venezuela or Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, have seen rents increase.