Fan-Yu Kuo

Fan-Yu Kuo is a senior economist at NAHB where she conducts economic research related to macroeconomics and forecasting. She also assists in economic and housing data updates. Prior to joining NAHB, Kuo was a research assistant at the Academia Sinica. She holds a master's in international economics and finance from Johns Hopkins University, as well as a master's in international political economy from King’s College London.

Consumer Confidence Edged Lower Amid Future Economic Concerns

Consumer confidence weakened in June but remained within the range of the past two years, with optimism about current labor market conditions offsetting concerns about future economic outlook. However, higher interest rates and lingering inflation continue to discourage consumption.  The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by the Conference Board, fell from 101.3 to 100.4 in June….

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Existing Home Sales Slid Amid Record High Prices

Existing home sales fell for the third straight month in May due to lingering high mortgage rates and record-high prices, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Low resale inventory and strong demand continued to drive up existing home prices, marking the eleventh consecutive month of year-over-year median sales price gains.  However, rising inventory…

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Existing Home Sales Decline in March

After reaching the 12-month high last month, existing home sales retreated in March due to lingering high mortgage rates, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Meanwhile, low resale inventory and strong demand continued to drive up existing home prices, marking the ninth consecutive month of year-over-year median sales price increases. Eventually, mortgage rates…

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Consumer Confidence Remains Stable Despite Concerns About Future

Consumer confidence held steady in March, with optimism about current conditions offset by concerns about the future economic outlook. This pessimism was primarily driven by persistent inflation, especially elevated food and gas prices. The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by the Conference Board, stood virtually unchanged at 104.7 in March, the lowest level since November 2023….

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