Inflation Picks Up as Tariffs Take Hold
Inflation rose to a 4-month high in June as consumer prices began to reflect tariff…
Inflation Picks Up as Tariffs Take Hold
Inflation rose to a 4-month high in June as consumer prices began to reflect tariff policy. The Consumer Price Index increased from 2.4% in May to 2.7% in June year-over-year, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report. Despite the increase, core inflation came in softer than expected, suggesting full tariff impacts will likely push…
Residential Remodelers Outnumber Single-family Builders in the U.S.
The number of residential remodelers in the U.S. has reached a record high of 128,187 establishments, 65% higher than the number of residential builders (single-family and multifamily), which stands at 77,455. These official government counts were released by the U.S. Census Bureau as part of its 2022 Economic Census, which tallies American businesses every five…
Lot Values Trend Higher in 2024
Despite shrinking lot sizes, values for single-family detached spec home lots continued to rise, with the national median outpacing U.S. inflation and reaching a new high in 2024. The U.S. median lot value for single-family detached for-sale homes started in 2024 stood at $60,000, according to NAHB’s analysis of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction…
Shrinking Lots: Spec Building New Norm
The share of smaller lots remained record high in 2024, with two out of three new single-family detached homes sold occupying lots under 9,000 square feet (1/5 of an acre or less). Moreover, a high share of 40% occupied lots under 7,000 square feet (or less than 1/6 of an acre). These shares match the…
Remodeling Market Sentiment Dips in Second Quarter
In the second quarter of 2025, the NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 59, down four points compared to the previous quarter. While this reading is still in positive territory, some remodelers, especially in the West, are seeing a slowing of activity in their markets. The second-quarter reading of 59 marks only the…
Mortgage Applications Picked Up in June as Rates Eased
Mortgage application activity picked up in June, supported by a slight decline in interest rates. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, which tracks mortgage application volume, rose 5.4% from May on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to June 2024, total applications were up 21.1%. The average contract rate for 30-year fixed mortgages edged…
Who’s Still Working from Home in 2025? A Look at America’s Telework Trends
Remote work may no longer dominate the U.S. labor force as it did during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but it still represents a substantial share of employment today. According to the latest data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), approximately 34.3 million employed people teleworked or worked at home for pay in…