U.S. pending home sales fell 1.2% in March, declining for the fifth month in a row, as demand continued to slow due to high prices and rising mortgage rates. … READ MORE >
Consumer confidence declines slightly as new home sales fall 8.6%
Consumer confidence eased in April despite an uptick in expectations, the Conference Board reported on Tuesday.
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Durable goods orders bounced back in March
Orders for durable goods bounced back in March despite interest rate hikes and supply shocks from geopolitical conflict. The top-line durable goods orders increased by 0.8% in March. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Initial jobless claims point to strong jobs report
New filings for jobless claims last week fell slightly, to 184,000, holding steady below the average pre-pandemic level for the 12th straight week. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: U.S. home prices hit record in March
Sales of existing homes fell by 2.7% to 5.77 million in March, the lowest since July 2020, as rising mortgage rates dampened demand. … READ MORE >
Housing starts moderated in March amid rising rates
Housing starts and permits inched up in March due to a boost from multifamily homes, beating market forecasts of significant declines in both series.
New residential starts rose 0.3% on the month to 1.79 million annualized rate, the highest since 2006. Building permits, an indicator of future starts, climbed 0.4% to an annualized 1.87 million. … READ MORE >
Chart of the day: Industrial production hits record in March
Domestic industrial production increased by 0.9% in March, beating market forecasts despite global supply chain disruptions of key materials. … READ MORE >
Initial jobless claims remain low as consumer sentiment rises unexpectedly
Initial jobless claims last week rose to 185,000 yet remained significantly below the pre-pandemic level. At the same time, consumer confidence increased unexpectedly, according to the University of Michigan survey. … READ MORE >
Retail sales slow in March as inflation takes a toll
March’s retail sales added substantial downside risks to our forecast for economic growth that will most likely dip below 1% in the first quarter. … READ MORE >
Domestic producer prices rose 11.2% in March amid Ukraine war
The producer price index for final goods and services rose 11.2% from a year ago, posting double digit growth for the third month in row. For March alone, the prices for the same products shot up by 1.4%, from 0.9% in February, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Wednesday. … READ MORE >









