Economic Indicators
New Residential Construction Rebounds in June With Gains in Housing Starts for Multifamily
By George Ratiu |
New construction at the midpoint of 2026 highlights the tension between Americans looking for affordable housing and market dynamics hampered by financial volatility and regulatory constraints. While population growth is slowing, the pace of household formation remains broadly in line…
Freddie Mac Mortgage Rates: June 2026
By George Ratiu |
The Freddie Mac 30-year fixed mortgage rate remains locked in the same narrow band where it has hovered for the past three-and-a-half months. Today’s results from the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey show the 30-year fixed rate inched up one basis point from last…
Inflation Jumps to 4.2% in May
By George Ratiu |
The ongoing conflict with Iran and the chokehold in the Strait of Hormuz continue to drive consumer prices higher. The latest Consumer Price Index hit a three-year high in May, rising 0.5% on a monthly basis, and a noticeable 4.2% compared with the same month in 2025. For consumers and the housing…
New Construction: May 2026
By George Ratiu |
April residential construction data reflect a housing market still working through a structural affordability imbalance. In a period of resurgent inflation and slowing wage growth, Americans are seeking viable solutions to the ongoing affordability crunch during an uncertain…
Inflation Insights: May 2026
By George Ratiu |
This week offered a sharp reminder that, even amid a resilient economy, we are not free of the looming shadow of inflation. The latest inflation numbers show a meaningful reacceleration in price pressures. Both the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and the Producer Price Index (PPI) posted their strongest…
Freddie Mac Mortgage Rates: May 2026
By George Ratiu |
The Freddie Mac fixed rate for a 30-year loan continues to highlight investors’ long-term expectations that inflation will stick around higher for longer. The 30-year mortgage rate has been above 6% for the past four years despite buyers’ and sellers’ lingering expectations of an imminent return…
Interest Rates: April 2026
By George Ratiu |
Federal Reserve’s rate-setting committee kept the rate unchanged at the April 2026 meeting.
New Construction: April 2026
By George Ratiu |
New construction posts mixed start to spring with starts rising and completions flat.
Interest Rates: March 2026
By George Ratiu |
The Federal Reserve’s rate-setting committee left the policy rate unchanged at today’s meeting, as it acknowledged uncertainty over the impact of Middle East war. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) finds itself squeezed between the proverbial rock and hard place, as the…
New Construction Starts the New Year with Higher Starts and Completions
By George Ratiu |
New residential construction in January highlighted a housing market beset by affordability challenges, hemmed by rising inflation and higher construction costs on one side and a slowing job market squeezing consumers on the other.