REITs and inflation in the USA: results from cointegration tests

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.