The April housing starts report was a relief for homebuilders. Their confidence has been struggling. The May report was slightly below the estimate. Consumer spending is still strong after the May retail sales report.
When real estate developers or REITs like AvalonBay (AVB) are confident about the economy, they build more in anticipation of future demand from consumers.
In April, the number of building permits issued was reported at 1.35 million, a decrease of 1.8% from the downward revised March reading of 1.37 million permits.
The “Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey” (or JOLTS) data for February was reported on April 13, and it contains information about job openings and total separations.
January’s JOLTS (Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey) data, which contains information about job openings and total separations, was reported on March 16.
The US Bureau of Economic Analysis (or BEA) has released its second 4Q17 GDP estimate, projecting that the US economy increased at an annual rate of 2.5%.
Building permits and the economy The number of building permits issued each month is a constituent of the Conference Board LEI (Leading Economic Index). The construction and housing industry (PKB) is a major job provider in the economy, and changes in activity in the sector affect employment conditions and aggregate demand. A higher number of building permits is a leading […]
In November 2017, housing units (XHB) authorized by building permits were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.298 million—a decrease of 1.4% from October.
In October 2017, building permits were at a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.297 million—an increase of 5.9% from the reading of 1.225 million in September.
The University of Michigan Preliminary Consumer Sentiment for November was reported at 97.8, which was 2.9 lower than the final October reading of 100.7.
For October, service sector activity rose at a pace not seen since the inception of the report. The non-manufacturing index reached a lifetime high of 60.1.
In September 2017, building permits were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.215 million—a fall from August’s 1.272 million and 4.3% below September 2016.
FOMC members noted that labor market conditions could take a hit due to the hurricanes in August and that this was evident in the October non-farm payrolls report.
Throughout this series, we’ll look at potential risks facing markets, and how they could impact global financial markets in the short-to-medium term if they end up materializing.
Building permits rise in August The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (or LEI) uses the number of building permits issued as a constituent. The construction industry is one of the key sources of employment in the United States, and the number of building permits gives some insight into future demand for the industry and its […]
The retail sales report for July was released by the United States Census Bureau on August 15. According to the report, US retail sales were $478.9 billion.
US Dollar index reaches a 14-month low The US Dollar Index (UUP) continued with its fall as investors preferred major peers. In the week ended July 21, the US Dollar Index closed at 93.78, falling 1.7% from the week prior. It is headed for its fifth consecutive month of loss this year. Conflicting news from […]
In this series, we’ll explore the latest data from the Leading Economic Index, one of three composite business cycle indicators released by The Conference Board.
As central banks buy up more bonds and more bonds move into negative yields, investors search among a smaller pool of substitutes and trades get crowded for higher risk alternatives. According to the Wall Street Journal, higher prices for stocks, bonds, and real estate have caused net wealth to swell to over 500% of national […]
Caterpillar’s (CAT) revenue fell by 16.2%, or by $2 billion year-over-year, to $10.3 billion in 2Q16 compared to analysts’ consensus estimates of $10.1 billion.
Stanley Black & Decker (SWK), the world’s leading toolmaker, declared its 2Q16 earnings before the Market opened on July 22. SWK stock closed 4.8% higher on the day of the earnings release.
United Technologies’s (UTX) Otis segment, which accounts for ~20%–22% of the company’s revenues every year, is the world’s largest elevator manufacturer. This segment has the best margins of the company’s operating units.
A number of factors have contributed to the slowdown, including soft overseas growth and a sharp drop in capital spending by energy and mining companies.
Deere’s (DE) construction and forestry segment generated revenues of $5.9 billion, $6.6 billion, and $6 billion, respectively, in 2013, 2014, and 2015.
Stanley Black & Decker (SWK) derives more than half of its tools and storage sales from the United States, making it the company’s largest regional market.
For the last few years, the world has been in the midst of a major demographic transition, which has affected the world economy. The aging population is one of the most visible global trends
Honeywell (HON) provides control solutions for various residential and industrial applications through the Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions–ACS unit.
Lowe’s is also experimenting with the idea of rolling out other smaller format stores like City Center stores in other under-penetrated and high-density urban areas in the US.
The US dollar index was trading on a flattish note on January 20, with a slight rise of 0.10% for the day. In the end, the index closed the day at 99.09.
Average hourly earnings fell by 1 cent on a month-over-month basis in December 2015 and were up 2.5% year-over-year to $25.24. Average weekly hours were flat at 34.5.
Housing has been a bright spot in the US economy. But over the past month, housing stocks haven’t been performing well. ITB, a housing-focused fund, has fallen 4.7%.
Achieving maximum employment is one of the dual mandates assigned to the Fed by Congress. The Fed definitely sees labor market signals as warranting a rate hike.
According to the National Association of Home Builders (or NAHB), the housing market index fell by a single point to reach a level of 61.0 in December.
The US Dollar index was trading in a narrow range on November 18, 2015. The slight movements down were mainly due to housing data coming out on a mixed note and the FOMC minutes.
