As the retail landscape evolves at break- neck speed, the growing use of new analysis techniques are helping inves- tors to keep pace and scrutinise retail proper- ties with more reliable data.

AEW has revealed the results of a collabora- tion with the University of Groningen in apply- ing innovative clustering algorithms that rely on geographic machine learning. AEW’s research team has used the algorithms and data from RCA to create clusters of retail property investment transactions in Europe’s major cities. The clus- tering process accounts for city-level variation in investment sales density to ensure that clusters can be compared across cities on a price and value basis.

Hans Vrensen, managing director and head of research and strategy at the asset manager, says that the clusters are an innovative step forward.

“We’re not just putting the data on a