The Housing Chronicles Blog: 5/1/13 - 6/1/13

Friday, May 31, 2013

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/31/13


Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/31/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:
  • Consumer confidence withstands Boston bombing
  • Chicago PMI surges in May to highest reading since March 2012
  • Personal income and savings rate flat in April as price index declines by 0.3%
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Friday, May 17, 2013

May column for Builder & Developer magazine now online

My column for the May issue of Builder & Developer magazine is now posted online.

For this issue, entitled "The Housing Market Roars," I reviewed the strength of the housing market and if the rebound is sustainable.  An excerpt:
By almost any measure – and as noted regularly in BuilderBytes’ MetroIntelligence Economic Update -- the housing market is not only on the mend, but rebounding much faster than most economists and housing analysts predicted. Not only did the median price for existing homes rise by nearly 10 percent nationally over the past year, but they continued rising during the seasonally slow winter months, and already show signs of gaining altitude as the spring buying season continues. 

Meanwhile, a combination of reduced new home construction, fewer foreclosures, investors paying cash for homes to rent out and owners still sitting on underwater homes means inventory levels that have fallen to 12-year lows. So is the current scenario just an economic blip, or have we finally launched into a sustained rebound that will last? 
To read the entire column, click here.

To read the entire May 2013 issue in digital format, click here.

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/17/13


Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/17/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:
  • Builder confidence improves in May
  • Producer Price Index declines 0.7% in April
  • Conditions in Empire State Manufacturing Survey declined marginally in March
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/15/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/15/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicator:
  • Retail sales unexpectedly rose in April after drop in March
  • Business inventories mostly flat in March as durable goods sales falter
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com

Sunday, May 12, 2013

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/12/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/12/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicator:

  • Consumer borrowing climbed less than expected in March
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com

Friday, May 10, 2013

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/10/13


Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/10/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:
  • Initial unemployment claims dip by 4,000 in latest report
  • Durable goods orders in March down 1.6% from February but up 1.3% from March 2012
  • Mortgage applications rise 7.0% in latest survey
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Wednesday, May 8, 2013

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/8/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/8/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicator:

  • Service economy growth slowed slightly in April
  • Manufacturing sector growth dipped slightly in April but still up for 5th straight month
  • U.S. trade deficit declined sharply in March as imports fall more than exports
  • Chicago PMI fell to 3.5-year low in April
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Monday, May 6, 2013

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/6/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/6/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicator:

  • Employment rose by 165,000 jobs in April; previous months' totals also revised upwards
  • Productivity rose by 0.7% in 1Q 2013; labor costs rose by 0.5%
  • Mortgage applications rose by 1.8% in latest survey
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Friday, May 3, 2013

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/3/13


Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/3/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicators:
  • March construction spending dipped 1.7% from February to $856.7 billion
  • Private sector jobs grew by 119,000 positions from March to April
  • Planned job cuts fell to their lowest level since December during April
  • Initial unemployment claims fall by 18,000 in latest report
  • FOMC decides to keep interest rates low and maintain bond purchases
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

BuilderBytes' MetroIntelligence Economic Update for 5/1/13

Please click here to see the edition of BuilderBytes for 5/1/13 on the Web.

In this issue of the MetroIntelligence Economic Update, I covered the following indicator:
  • S&P/Case-Shiller Indices rose by high single digits for year ending in February 2013
  • Pending home sales rise slowed in March
  • Consumer spending rose in March even as incomes rose less than expected
  • Consumer confidence rebounded in April after dipping in March
Want to advertise in the newsletter and reach over 130,000 readers? Contact National Sales Manager Nick Cosan at nkosan@penpubinc.com.