Local commercial office market is holding steady

Two new reports offered some reassuring news about the Greater Boston commercial real estate market for research space and office towers.

Despite a faltering national economy, leasing fundamentals held steady in the Greater Boston office market, Boston real estate firm Colliers Meredith & Grew said in a first-quarter report.

The vacancy rate remained flat since year-end 2007, at 14.3 percent, and down from 16.3 percent at the end of the first quarter a year ago, the report said.