At the conclusion of its December policy meeting, the Federal Reserve announced changes to its outlook and projections that move monetary policy further away from the accommodative stance that has supported the economic rebound from the 2020 recession. This pivot toward tighter policy is a direct result of ongoing, elevated inflation data. Today’s announcement makes several changes to both the… Read More ›
The prices of goods used in residential construction ex-energy climbed 1.8% in November (not seasonally adjusted), according to the latest Producer Price Index (PPI) report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The monthly increase was driven by price increases in nearly every product category. Building materials prices have increased 14.1% year-to-date, more than tripling the November YTD increase of… Read More ›
In December, Bryant Dixon became the first Planning and Zoning Director hired for the job to have a degree in planning. Dixon’s experience includes but is not limited to economic development, regional stormwater management, zoning and land use.
The position has been vacant while Villavaso and Associates was contracted by the City of Zachary to complete much of the work. As responsibilities transition to Dixon, Villavaso and Associates will continue to work on updates to the UDC and other contracted services.
Despite inflation concerns and ongoing production bottlenecks, builder confidence edged higher for the fourth consecutive month on strong consumer demand and limited existing inventory. Builder sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes moved one point higher to 84 in December, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI). This ties the highest… Read More ›
The latest results from the Federal Reserve’s Z.1 Financial Accounts of the United States, i.e., the “Flow of Funds”, show that the aggregate value of all home mortgages of households and nonprofit organizations in the United States in the third quarter of 2021 registered the largest post-Great Recession numerical quarterly increase. From $11.3 trillion in the second quarter of 2021,… Read More ›
