Users of Nashville-area industrial real estate signed on for 1.2 million square feet in the third quarter, a nice jump from a tepid Q2. Lease rates are rising steadily, too, but the research and brokerage team at Cassidy Turley say the absorption numbers need to be put into proper perspective.

While this number is impressive, it is inclusive of several short term deals, a trend we are currently seeing as companies have difficulty forecasting their long term plans while facing the headwinds of economic uncertainty. Short term leases are much easier to approve at the C-level than longer term financial commitments.