The NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the third quarter of 2022 posted a reading of 77, declining 10 points from the third quarter of 2021. The RMI is based on a survey that asks remodelers to rate various aspects of the residential remodeling market “good,” “fair” or “poor.” Responses from each question are converted to an index that… Read More ›
The prices of building materials decreased 0.3% in September (not seasonally adjusted) according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report. The PPI for goods inputs to residential construction, including energy, declined for the third consecutive month in September (-0.1%). Prices have fallen 2.3% since June, the largest three-month drop since April 2020. The price index of services inputs to residential… Read More ›
Per the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) survey through the week ending October 7th, total mortgage activity declined 2.0% from the previous week and the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) rate rose six basis points to 6.81%. The FRM has risen 80 basis points over the past month, reaching its highest level since 2006. The Market Composite Index, a measure of… Read More ›
Job growth slowed in September as the Fed raises interest rates aggressively to fight inflation, but the overall labor market remains tight. The unemployment rate edged down to 3.5% as the number of persons in the labor force decreased by 57,000 in September. Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 263,000 in September, following a gain of 315,000 in August, as… Read More ›
Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased in 40 states and the District of Columbia in the second quarter of 2022 while ten states saw modest GDP growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), the percent change in real GDP ranged from 1.8 percent increase in Texas to 4.8 percent decline in Wyoming. Nationwide, growth in real GDP, measured… Read More ›
A majority of new homes that completed construction in 2021 included two-car garages (67%), according to NAHB analysis of 2021 Census Bureau Survey of Construction data. There is clear uniformity for parking options in new homes completed across the Census divisions: the 2-car garage was the most popular parking option for completed homes in all divisions. The option for three or… Read More ›
