- Inflation Cooled in Marchby Fan-Yu Kuo on April 10, 2025
Inflation slowed to a 6-month low in March, largely driven by lower energy costs, especially in gasoline prices. Despite the easing, the report likely only captures part of the first wave of global tariffs announcement. The inflationary pressure from tariffs and escalating trade war continues to […]
- Remodeling Market Sentiment Down in First Quarterby Eric Lynch on April 10, 2025
Sentiment declined among remodelers in the first quarter of 2025, following a similar trend last month in single-family home builder sentiment. The NAHB/Westlake Royal Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 63 in the first quarter, down five points compared to the previous quarter. […]
- Almost Half of the Owner-Occupied Homes Built Before 1980by Na Zhao on April 8, 2025
Around 48% of the U.S. housing stocks dates back to the 1980s and earlier. The median age of owner-occupied homes has climbed to 41 years in 2023, up from 31 years in 2005 according to the latest data from the American Community Survey[1]. The U.S. owner-occupied housing stock has aged rapidly […]
- Refinancing Continues to Drive Mortgage Activity in Marchby Catherine Koh on April 7, 2025
The Market Composite Index, which measures mortgage loan application volume based on the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) weekly survey, rose 14.0% month-over-month on a seasonally adjusted (SA) basis, driven primarily by a surge in refinancing activity. Year-over-year, the index is up 29.2% […]
- U.S. Economy Added 228,000 Jobs in Marchby Jing Fu on April 4, 2025
The U.S. job market unexpectedly accelerated in March, while the figures for January and February were revised downward substantially. The unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.2% in March, from 4.1% the previous month. This month’s jobs report highlights the continued resilience of the labor […]