Housing Economics

Shelter Costs Putting Upward Pressure on Inflation

Despite a slowdown in its year-over-year increase, shelter costs account for nearly 70% of the total increase in all items excluding food and energy. This ongoing elevated and uneven inflation is likely to keep the Federal Reserve on hold and delay rate cuts this year.

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Eye on Housing Blog

May 13, 2024 Affordability Pyramid Shows 66.6 Million Households Cannot Buy a $250,000 Home

May 13, 2024 Top Compromises Buyers Will Make to Reach Homeownership

May 10, 2024 Credit for Builders Tightens Slightly, Remains Costly

May 10, 2024 High Interest Rates, Construction Costs Are Serious Impediments for New Multifamily Development

May 09, 2024 Multifamily Developer Confidence Declines in First Quarter

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Data at a Glance

Framing Lumber Prices

Fluctuations in the costs of building materials, particularly those of framing lumber, contribute significantly to home prices and housing affordability levels.

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NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI)

The HMI offers an insider’s perspective on the current state of housing. Each month, builder sentiment about the present and near-term housing market is depicted on a scale of 0 to 100, indicating the portion of builders experiencing positive market conditions.

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Housing Starts

Housing starts data are key economic indicators that track the pace of residential construction. These monthly Census Bureau statistics typically reflect broader trends within the overall economy such as interest rates and job growth.

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Housing’s Economic Impact See national and regional estimates of the jobs, income and taxes generated from housing.

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National Statistics

The latest on starts and permits, home sales, lumber prices, mortgage rates and more.

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State and Local Data

Regional reporting of building permits, home sales, employment and workforce demand.

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Macro Economic Outlook

Analysis from NAHB economists on the current and future state of the economy.

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Indices

Exclusive NAHB surveys provide insights from several sectors throughout the industry.

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Housing Economics PLUS

Get exclusive access to in-depth analysis of market trends and industry forecasts.

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Special Studies

Detailed research on a wide variety of topics related to the U.S. housing market.

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