Low existing inventory that is keeping demand solid for new homes helped to push builder confidence up in July even as the industry continues to grapple with rising mortgage rates, elevated construction costs and limited lot availability. Builder confidence in the market for newly built...
While US homeownership rates have been rising since 2015 and received an extra boost during the post-pandemic housing boom, they remain below the levels reached during the housing boom of the mid-2000s. With the national trends reflecting fundamental drivers of homeowners, local markets often tell...
Over the first five months of 2023, the total number of single-family permits issued year-to-date (YTD) nationwide reached 357,143. On a year-over-year (YoY) basis, this is 24.7% below the May 2022 level of 473,997. Year-to-date ending in May, single-family permits declined in all four regions....
Job gains slowed in June, but the labor market remained solid. Total payroll employment rose by 209,000 and the unemployment rate decreased to 3.6%. In June, wages grew at a 4.4% year-over-year growth rate, down 1.1 percentage points from a 5.5% gain in May 2022....
Average hourly earnings for residential building workers* rose at a slower pace in May, after more than a year of strong gains. Wage growth has retreated below or close to 3%, from the peak rate of 2021. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)...
According to the latest Producer Price Index report, the price level of inputs to residential construction less energy (i.e., building materials) was unchanged in June 2023 (not seasonally adjusted). March 2023 was the last month prices increased. The index has gained 0.5%, year-to-date, and has...
The NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the second quarter of 2023 posted a reading of 68, edging down 2 points from the first quarter of 2023. Even though the Fed has maintained a hawkish position when it comes to interest rates as inflation...
Per the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) survey through the week ending July 7th, total mortgage activity increased 0.9% from the previous week and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) rate rose 22 basis points to 7.07%. The FRM rate has risen 30 basis points over...
Consumer prices in June saw a continued deceleration, with the smallest year-over-year gain since March 2021. Over the past twelve months, inflation has been consistently decelerating. Despite a slowdown compared to the previous month, the shelter index (housing inflation) continued to be the largest contributor...
Consumer credit outstanding growth slowed to a 30-month low of 1.8% in May 2023 (SAAR) according to the Federal Reserve’s latest G.19 Consumer Credit report, as revolving and nonrevolving debt grew at 8.2% and -0.4%, respectively. Credit growth for March and April—each of which were...
Data obtained from the US Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC) and tabulated by NAHB, show that the rising trend of two or more stories homes continued in 2022. Although the overall share remained virtually unchanged, the share of two or more stories homes started...
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the first quarter of 2023. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the percent change in real GDP increased ranged from 12.4 percent in North Dakota to...
The count of open, unfilled jobs for the overall economy moved lower in May, falling to 9.8 million. While ongoing tight labor market conditions have likely confirmed one to two more Fed rate hikes through the start of the Fall, the JOLTS survey is another...
After two consecutive monthly declines, existing home sales saw a modest increase in May as mortgage rates were relatively steady in April, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory continued to weight on homebuyers. Low resale inventory...
Consumer confidence in June rose to its highest level in 17 months as recession concerns eased. However, spending plans were mixed. Vacation intentions continued to improve, while the intention to buy homes and big-ticket appliances cooled further due to elevated mortgage rates. This shift in...
NAHB analysis of Census Construction Spending data shows that private residential construction spending rose 2.2% in May, as spending on single-family homes increased 1.7%. However, total private residential construction spending is still 11.6% lower compared to a year ago. The total construction monthly increase is...
The population of North Carolina rebounded strongly from a brief period of negative growth the state experienced in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. North Carolina’s population grew at a rate of 1.3% between 2021 and 2022, the ninth fastest of any state. By count,...
NAHB analysis of the Census Bureau’s quarterly state and local tax data shows that $174 billion in taxes were paid by property owners in the first quarter of 2023 (not seasonally adjusted).[1] In the four quarters ending Q1 2023, state and local governments collected $714...
