Stocks Continue Rally on Upbeat Economic News
Stocks kept their upward momentum going Tuesday, buoyed by two positive economic reports: the number of housing starts picked up and consumer inflation came in low.
housing starts
Housing Starts Pick Up in May, But Less Than Forecast
Housing starts rose less than expected in May, likely reflecting labor and material constraints, but the overall trend remained consistent with strength in the housing market.
U.S. Housing Starts Plummet in April, But Permits Surge
Ground-breaking for new U.S. homes plummeted more than expected in April from an almost five-year high.
Housing Stocks Rise on Bullish Real Estate Report
A very bullish report on housing starts has lifted shares of leading homebuilders by two to four percent today, adding to the huge gains over the past year.
Housing Starts Rise to Highest Level in Nearly 5 Years
U.S. builders started more houses and apartments in February and obtained permits for future construction at the fastest pace in nearly five years, a new report shows.
U.S. Housing Starts Dip But Remain at Solid Pace
U.S. homebuilders began work at a slower pace in January, though the level was still the third-highest since 2008. The pace of building was viewed as a sign of further strengthening in residential real estate.
December Housing Starts: Home Construction Hits Highest Level Since 2008
U.S. builders started work on homes in December at the fastest pace since the summer of 2008 and finished 2012 as their best year for residential construction since the early stages of the housing crisis.
U.S. Housing Starts Slowed to 861,000 in November
U.S. builders broke ground on fewer houses in November after starting work in October at the fastest pace in four years. Superstorm Sandy likely slowed starts in the Northeast.
U.S. Housing Construction Jumps to 4-Year High
U.S. builders started construction on homes in September at the fastest rate since July 2008, a further indication that the housing recovery is strengthening and could help the economy grow.
US Housing Starts Rose 2.3 Percent in August
U.S. builders started work on more homes in August, driven by the fastest pace of single-family home construction in more than two years. The increase points to steady progress in the housing recovery.
New Home Sales Surge Ahead in May at Fastest Pace in 2 Years
Americans bought new homes in May at the fastest pace in more than two years. The 7.6% increase suggests a modest recovery in the housing market is continuing, despite weaker job growth.
Builders Start More Single-Family Homes; Permit Requests Surge
U.S. builders started work on more single-family homes in May and requested the most permits to build homes and apartments in three and a half years. The increase suggests the housing market is slowly recovering even as other areas of the economy have weakened.
Housing Starts Surge, but Level Remains Low
A surge in apartment construction gave builders more work in November, but 2011 is still shaping up to be one of the worst years in history for homebuilders.
'Divorce Starts': A Leading Indicator for Home Sales?
While not everyone whose marriage ends rushes out to break ground on a new home, some real estate agents say divorcing spouses make up at least a third of their clients. With the economy impacting divorce trends and marital splits pushing spending trends, should economists be watching divorce rates when they chart the economic outlook?
Homebuilders Missing Out on the Economic Recovery
For homebuilders, it hardly feels like an economic recovery. Nearly two years after the recession ended, the pace of construction is less than half the level considered healthy. That weakness is weighing on the economy: Though new homes represent a small portion of overall sales, they have an outsized effect on jobs.
Week in Preview: Discover, Oracle and Tiffany Earnings
Oracle, Discover and Tiffany are all expected to report year-over-year growth for their most recent quarters this week. Meanwhile, many will be looking for an updated snapshot of the housing market, with three sets of real-estate data coming out.
New-Home Construction Hits Five-Decade Low
Housing started plunged 22.5% in February, sliding to the second-lowest on records dating back more than a half-century. The decline is the latest evidence that the housing industry is years away from a recovery.
Prospective Homebuyers: Time Is on Your Side
The latest reports on home sales and prices offer a complicated and conflicted picture. But when the data are taken together, one thing is clear: Weighing risk and reward, it's worth waiting a few months to see which way the real estate winds are really blowing.
In Construction, a Year of Flat Growth Would Be Welcome
Want to see how the construction industry will do in 2011? Look at how architects did in 2010. By that gauge, last year's thin uptick in building design and engineering services foretells a similar small gain ahead for builders -- after two years of steep declines.
Housing's Long and Winding Road to Recovery
While home prices were falling last fall nearly nationwide, the pace of sales has picked up more recently. Overall, it seems clear that the worst of the housing debacle has passed. It's just that the U.S. remains on a slow, grinding track back to housing health.
This Week: Major Earnings and Reports Every Day
With corporate earnings season in full swing -- watch for McDonalds, along with Catepillar, Amazon and other -- and with the Fed meeting on interest rates, the GDP estimate and housing numbers coming out -- the week ahead is expected to be quite busy.
U.S. Mortgage Rates Reach a Seven-Month High
U.S. mortgage rates have grown for five straight weeks, in the last week hitting their highest levels in seven months. Ten-year Treasury note yields have been climbing on inflation concerns, driving the higher rates.
Housing Starts: Another Small Gain in November
The humbled housing sector took a modest step forward last month as starts rose a better-than-predicted 3.9% to a 530,000-unit annual rate. Still, at the current pace, the nation is 18 to 24 months from seeing normal levels of homebuilding.
Does the Stock Market Need to 'Take a Breather'?
Traders face plenty of economic news this week, and considering how much the market has risen, it could be time for a bit of a pullback. But at least one trader thinks that's just what's needed to create a base for further gains ahead. [Video]
Bloomberg Ranks Top 10 U.S. Economic Analysts
When it comes to predicting the U.S. economy, who has the best crystal ball? Lou Crandall, chief economist at economic advisory firm Wrightson ICAP, according to Bloomberg Markets magazine's new list of top analysts released Thursday.
New Housing Starts Plunged 11.7% in October
U.S. housing starts unexpectedly plunged 11.7% in October to a 519,000-unit annual rate, weighed down by a 47.5% decline in apartment and condo construction. But building permits, a leading indicator of future housing construction, did inch 0.5% higher last month.
U.S. Housing Starts Rose for Third Straight Month
The unexpected increase of 0.3% to a 610,000 annual rate provides additional evidence that homebuilding may be bottoming. However, economists caution that it's still too early to declare any kind of solid turnaround.
Stimulus Lifts Construction Spending in August
Boosted by government projects, construction spending unexpectedly rose 0.4% in August. Though a single monthly gain hardly means the sector%u2019s long contraction is over, the data does hint that the period of large, monthly construction spending declines may be ending.