Title: REITs and inflation in the USA: results from cointegration tests

Authors: Tobias Basse

Addresses: Norddeutsche Landesbank (NORD/LB), Friedrichswall 10, Hannover D-30159, Germany; Touro College Berlin, Berlin D-14055, Germany

Abstract: Examining US data, this study uses techniques of cointegration analysis to test whether real estate investment trusts (REITs) are a useful hedge against inflation. Johansen tests seem to indicate that REITs are cointegrated with the general price level. This is true for a broad REIT index as well as for equity REITs. Therefore, investments in REITs can help to hedge against inflation. However, the empirical evidence reported in this study suggests that REITs mainly seem to be a hedge against housing-related changes of the US consumer price index.

Keywords: inflation hedges; REITs; real estate; investment trusts; real assets; monetary policies; stock markets; USA; cointegration tests; United States; cointegration analysis; Soren Johansen; time series; price levels; housing; house prices; price changes; consumer price index; CPI; economics; business research.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEBR.2012.046822

International Journal of Economics and Business Research, 2012 Vol.4 No.3, pp.284 - 296

Published online: 25 Nov 2014 *

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