Articles
Builder Sentiment Rose 3 Points to 83 in November
Low existing inventories and strong buyer demand helped push builder confidence higher for the third consecutive month even as supply-side challenges-including building material bottlenecks and lot and labor shortages-remain stubbornly persistent. Read More
Premium Ocean Shipping Rates Fell 25% Last Week, Ports Still Clogged
The cost to move a container across the Pacific fell by more than one-quarter last week, the biggest decline in two years, reports the Wall Street Journal. This applies to premium, not contract buy, rates; most flooring importers don't buy at this premium rate. Read More
Housing affordability holds steady
Housing affordability held steady at its lowest level in nearly a decade, as higher home prices offset lower mortgage rates to keep the affordability rate flat in the third quarter of 2021. However, ongoing supply-chain disruptions and the prospect of higher interest rates in the future threaten to exacerbate affordability problems in the months ahead. Read More