Articles

In a sign that the housing market is stabilizing in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 0.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 623,000 units in April, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. The April rate is 6.2 percent lower than the April 2019 pace. Read More

Personal income increased 10.5 percent (monthly rate) in April according to estimates released today by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Disposable personal income increased 12.9 percent and consumer spending decreased 13.6 percent. Read More

The figures for ceramic tile imports into the United States in the first quarter of this year confirm China’s comprehensive exit from the market (-98% in both volume and value compared to the first quarter of 2019) following the introduction of countervailing and anti-dumping duties. Read More

Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased 5.0 percent in the first quarter of 2020, according to the “second” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Read More

In a signal that the housing market is showing signs of stabilizing and gradually moving forward in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes increased seven points to 37 in May, according to the latest National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. The rise in builder sentiment follows the largest single monthly decline in the history of the index in April. Read More

In a sign of the growing economic toll from the coronavirus pandemic, total housing starts decreased 30.2 percent in April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 891,000 units, according to a report from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and Commerce Department. Read More

Confidence in the market for new multifamily housing weakened significantly in the first quarter of 2020, according to results from the Multifamily Market Survey (MMS) released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). The survey was conducted during the first part of April, when many of the effects of the pandemic had become apparent. Read More

"The affordability decline is tied to the coronavirus outbreak as job losses surged and median income fell due to reduced economic activity," said NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz. "However, housing demand started the year strong, interest rates are expected to stay at low levels for the foreseeable future and home prices have held remarkably stable over the past four quarters. As virus mitigation efforts show signs of success, workers will return to their jobs, and housing will help lead the economy to higher ground." Read More

"Like the broader housing market, the 55+ housing market has taken a significant hit due to the effects of the pandemic," said NAHB chief economist Robert Dietz. "While we expect to see some further impacts in the short-term, we do expect the housing market to stabilize later this year and help lead the economy back to more solid footing."   Read More

Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased 4.8 percent in the first quarter of 2020, according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2019, real GDP increased 2.1 percent. Read More