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New Home Sales Down In March
23 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 23, 2014 Sales of newly built, single-family homes fell 14.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 384,000 units in March, according to data released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau. “We keep hearing from our members that tight credit conditions are preventing many... Read more »
Retailers Ready For Solid Second Quarter
22 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 18, 2014 Those looking to understand how the retail industry will perform in the second quarter and beyond can gain an interesting perspective from the outlook shared by one of the world’s largest diversified packaging companies. First quarter sales in the display and packaging division at Sonoco increased 6% to $153 million and operating... Read more »
The Conference Board Leading Economic Index For The U.S. Increased In March
22 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 21, 2014 The Conference Board Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.8 percent in March to 100.9, following a 0.5 percent increase in February, and a 0.2 percent increase in January. “The LEI rose sharply again, the third consecutive month increase,” said Ataman Ozyildrim, Economist at The Conference Board. “After a winter pause,... Read more »
Economic Highlights For The Week Ahead – April 21
22 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 21, 2014 Last Week: With winter weather in the rearview mirror, the big question now is how much bounce will demand get – with shoppers finally able to get out and about. Weather may be the big reason why the economy underperformed in the first quarter. Good weather may be the reason why the... Read more »
After A Strong Start, Remodeling Activity Should See Some Easing Later In The Year
21 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 17, 2014 Solid growth is expected in the home remodeling market this year but momentum should begin to moderate in the fourth quarter, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA), released today by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University. Sluggishness in the housing market... Read more »
Builder Confidence Holds Steady In April
17 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 15, 2014 Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose one point to 47 in April from a downwardly revised March reading of 46 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. “Builder confidence has been in a holding pattern the past three months,” said... Read more »
Housing Starts Rise 2.8 Percent In March
17 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 16, 2014 Led by a 6 percent rise in single-family starts, nationwide housing production rose 2.8 percent above an upwardly revised February rate of 920,000 to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 946,000 units in March, according to newly released figures from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. “We see improving signs of new-home... Read more »
Economic Highlights For The Week Ahead – April 14
16 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 14, 2014 Last week: During a quiet week with relatively little news, the drop in stock prices garnered headlines, even as corporate profit reporting gets underway. There seems to be a little more retail activity in early spring, as the wet, cold winter fades into memory. And forecasts continue to reflect optimism that the... Read more »
Home Depot Looks To Win With Water Initiative
15 Apr, 2014 • Helen Thomas
April 14, 2014 To help customers save water and grow its sales in the process, Home Depot will execute a massive customer education initiative later this month. Home Depot regularly holds in store clinics to arm customers with knowledge to tackle home improvement projects, and its newest initiative applies that thought process to a less... Read more »