Jesse Wade

Jesse Wade, CBE, is an economist and director of tax and trade policy analysis for NAHB. His work focuses on analysis of state and federal tax data, international trade, and building materials. He additionally focuses on local area analysis, such as the NAHB Home Building Geography Index (HBGI). Previously, Jesse served as an economist in the NAHB Forecasting and Analysis Department. Prior to NAHB, Jesse worked as a research associate at the Center for the Study of Services. He holds a master’s degree in applied economics from the University of Maryland and a CBE - Certified Business Economist (the certification in business economics and data analytics developed by the National Association for Business Economics).

Softwood Lumber Prices Continue to Lead Price Growth for Building Materials

Prices for inputs to new residential construction—excluding capital investment, labor, and imports—were up 0.5% in February according to the most recent Producer Price Index (PPI) report published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The increase in January was revised downward to 1.1%. The Producer Price Index measures prices that domestic producers receive for their…

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HBGI Q4 2024: Single-Family Construction Ends Year with Growth

The continued shortage of existing homes for sale has helped to keep new single-family construction growing across all regions, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders release of the Home Building Geography Index (HBGI). Despite persistent factors that continue to affect housing affordability, including a limited supply of buildable lots, rising construction costs,…

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Multifamily Completions Rise Again Pushing Absorption Rates Lower

The percentage of new apartment units that were absorbed within three months after completion continued to trend downwards, according to the Census Bureau’s latest release of the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Units (SOMA). The survey covers new units in multifamily residential buildings with five or more units. The number of new multifamily…

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Residential Construction Input Prices Increase to Start the Year

Prices for inputs to new residential construction—excluding capital investment, labor, and imports—were up 1.2% in January according to the most recent Producer Price Index (PPI) report published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Producer Price Index measures prices that domestic producers receive for their goods and services, this differs from the Consumer Price…

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