Growth in the UK commercial property sector is slowing down, according to figures from the Investment Property Databank (IPD).

Total returns for May 2007 were at 0.71%, down from 0.86% in March. First quarter figures bring the 12-month return for commercial property down to 15%. The total return for the year ending December 2006 stood at 18.1%.

Malcolm Frodsham, research director at IPD, said: “It’s been inevitable that the strong inward yield movement had to end at some point, and the first quarter has seen only a modest inward movement in the sectors where investors can see strong future rental growth.”