Consumer prices reached a new 40-year high in June as shelter, energy and food prices continued to surge at the fastest pace in decades. This marked the fourth straight month for inflation above an 8% rate and was the largest year-over-year gain since November 1981. Both energy and shelter index recorded their largest annual gains since April 1980 and February… Read More ›
Tag Archive for ‘inflation’
Consumer Confidence Fall to 16-Month Low Amid Inflation Concerns
Consumer confidence dropped again in June as inflation stayed at decades high and continued to temper consumers’ economic outlook, which tumbled to the lowest level in nearly a decade. Though spending intentions for homes, cars, and major appliances held relatively steady, consumer spending will continue to face headwinds from further inflation and rate hikes. The Consumer Confidence Index, reported by… Read More ›
Federal Reserve Accelerates Rate Hikes
To fight persistent inflation, the Federal Reserve has committed to significantly cooling demand. This approach reflects a non-monetary policy failure to fix underlying supply-side challenges that are pushing up inflation. The Fed lacks policy tools to make these supply-side fixes, so it must rely on demand-side impacts to bring down inflation by reducing economic growth. Consequently, at the conclusion of… Read More ›
Rapidly Rising Building Materials and Freight Prices Push Construction Costs Higher
The prices of goods used in residential construction climbed 1.8% in May (not seasonally adjusted) and have increased 19.4%, year-over-year, according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report. Prices have surged 40.4% since January 2020. Building materials (i.e., goods inputs to residential construction, less energy) prices have increased 5.4%, year-to-date, and are 36.3% higher than they were in May… Read More ›
Inflation Hits a Fresh 40-Year High in May
Consumer prices accelerated again in May as shelter, energy and food prices continued to surge at the fastest pace in decades. This marked the third straight month for inflation above an 8% rate and was the largest year-over-year gain since December 1981. Both energy and shelter index recorded their largest annual gains since September 2005 and February 1991. This persistent… Read More ›
Large Metro Suburban Single-family Construction Slows
Recent developments in the first quarter of 2022 per NAHB’s Home Building Geography Index (HBGI), indicate single-family home building slowing in suburbs, with most other regional geographies following suit. Following the aftermath of COVID-19, home buyer preferences for the suburbs have eased. Supply-chain challenges and unfavorable economic conditions have reduced the pace of single-family residential construction across all regional submarkets…. Read More ›
Building Materials Prices Move Higher, Up 19% Year-over-Year
According to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the prices of goods used in residential construction ex-energy (not seasonally adjusted) climbed 0.5% in April, following upwardly revised increases of 1.9% and 2.4% in March and February, respectively. This adds up to an 4.9% increase in building materials prices since the start… Read More ›
Inflation Slows from 40-Year High in April
Consumer prices increased at a somewhat slower pace in April, the smallest monthly increase since August 2021, though inflation remains near a 40-year high. The food at home and shelter index rose at their fastest pace since November 1980 and April 1991. Though gas prices have fallen from their March highs, the pace of inflation will likely stay high in… Read More ›
Consumer Credit Increases in First Quarter
In the first quarter of 2022, non-real estate secured consumer credit, per the Federal Reserve’s latest G.19 Consumer Credit report, grew at a seasonal adjusted annual rate of 9.7%, with revolving debt growing at 21.4% and nonrevolving at 6.1%. Total consumer credit currently stands at $4.5 trillion, with $1.1 trillion in revolving debt and $3.4 trillion in non-revolving debt. From… Read More ›
Existing Home Sales Fall for Second Month While Prices Reach Record High
As rising mortgage rates and high inflation continue to price out homebuyers and reduce affordability, existing home sales dropped to the lowest level since June 2020, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). However, the trend in home price appreciation continued as supply remained tight. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, fell 2.7% to… Read More ›