Tag Archive for ‘eye on the economy’

Eye on the Economy: Labor Market Gains and Rising Consumer Confidence

Rising consumer confidence and recent labor market gains are positive developments for rental and owner-occupied housing demand going into 2015. The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index December reading rose to the most favorable level since its last cyclical peak in January 2007. The survey indicated consumers anticipated a significant income increases in 2015. The separate Conference Board Consumer… Read More ›

Eye on the Economy: Hiring Gains a Positive for Housing

Good employment data offer a positive for housing as the market transitions from summer to fall. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), 248,000 net jobs were created in September. August gains were revised from a disappointing 142,000 to a slightly better 180,000, while July’s tally was also revised from 212,000 to 243,000. The separate BLS household survey indicated… Read More ›

Eye on the Economy: New Home Sales Jump in August

New home sales rebounded in August, increasing 18% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 504,000, according to estimates from the Census Bureau and HUD. These gains were atop upward revisions for the July pace. The August rate is 33% higher than August 2013 and is a solid indication of the ongoing recovery in the single-family market. The inventory of… Read More ›

Eye on the Economy: Builders Look Forward

Housing starts fell in August, according to the most recent government data, but the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) rose to a post-recession high. The market data suggest future increases in single-family building as the sector expands to higher levels of activity more consistent with long-run rates of household formation and population growth. For August, the Census Bureau and… Read More ›

Eye on the Economy: Existing Home Sales Improving

Existing home sales increased 2.4% in July, tallying the fourth consecutive month of increase. While the pace of existing home sales remains 4.3% below the July 2013 rate, the steady improvement for resales is positive news for the new home market because prospective repeat homebuyers must sell their existing home before buying a newly built residence. The National Association of… Read More ›

Eye on the Economy: Home Construction Rebounds in July

After a disappointing June report, housing starts rebounded to an annual rate of 1.093 million for a 15.7% increase over the upwardly revised June level. The substantial June dip, caused by a fall in single-family construction in the South, was eliminated as single-family construction rose 8.3% with increases in three of the four regions. Midwest single-family starts were down 6.8%… Read More ›