News in end use

On Wednesday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) for January. According to the JOLTS report, as of the last business day in January the number and rate of job openings declined to 10.8 million (a loss of 410,000) and 6.5%, respectively.

Fannie Mae has released its Home Purchase Sentiment Index® (HPSI) for February. The HPSI fell 3.6 points in February to a reading of 58.0. The decline ends a streak of three consecutive monthly gains, returning the HPSI closer to its all-time survey low set in October 2022.

Redfin is reporting that US home-sale prices have declined year-over-year for the first time in more than a decade. The typical house sold for $350,246 during the four weeks ending February 26th, down 0.6% from a year ago, marking the first time prices have declined since 2012.

Statistics Canada reported on Friday that the total monthly value of building permits in Canada declined 4.0% in January to $9.8 billion (CAD). On a constant dollar (2012=100) the total value of building permits dropped 3.2% to $5.8 billion.

Redfin reported on Friday that approximately one in five (21%) US homes for sale in 2022 were affordable for the typical household. That is down from two in five (40%) in 2021, and it is the lowest share on record. “Housing affordability is at the lowest level in history.”

Analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) shows that during 2022Q4, residential construction loan volume reached a post-Great Recession high, as home building activity and new home sales remained below trend.

A closer look at the US Census Bureau’s Construction Spending report released on Wednesday, with additional analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders, reveals that spending on private residential construction declined 0.6% in January. Single-family home construction declined 1.7%.

Freddie Mac has released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® for the week ending March 2nd. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.65%, up from last week when it averaged 6.50%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year rate averaged 3.76%.

The US Department of Labor is reporting that the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 190,000 during the week ending on Saturday, February 25th. This is a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s unrevised level of 192,000. The 4-week moving average was 193,000.

On Wednesday, the US Census Bureau reported that total construction spending during January was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,825.7 billion, 0.1% below the revised December estimate of $1,827.5 billion. The January figure is 5.7% above the January 2022 estimate of $1,726.6 billion.