Self-storage was the top-performing market sector of all U.S. real estate investment trusts, both for year-to-date and 12-month trailing results, according to the December 2011 Media Update released by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT). The report reflects data collected by the association through Nov. 30.

On a year-to-date basis, self-storage led with a  31.6 percent total return. Apartments delivered an 8.8 percent return; retail was at 8 percent; the office sector was down 4.4 percent; and the industrial sector was down 9.2 percent.

On a trailing12-month basis, self-storage demonstrated a 40 percent total return. Apartments delivered a 13.5 percent return; retail was up 11.46 percent; the office sector was up 0.1 percent; and the Industrial sector was down 0.2 percent.

To see REIT investment performance by property sector and subsector, click here.

U.S. REIT total returns continued to outpace those of the broader equity market through the first 11 months of the year. On a total-return basis, the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index gained 2.6 percent, and the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index was up 3.3 percent through Nov. 30, compared to 1.1 percent for the S&P 500. On a 12-month basis, the total return of the FTSE NAREIT All REITs Index was up 7.4 percent, and the FTSE NAREIT All Equity REITs Index was up 8.1 percent, while the S&P 500 was up 7.8 percent.

FTSE is an independent company jointly owned by The Financial Times and the London Stock Exchange. The Index Series presents investors with a comprehensive family of real estate investment trust performance indexes spanning the commercial real estate space across the U.S. economy, offering exposure to all investment and property sectors.

NAREIT is the representative voice for REITs and publicly traded real estate companies.