News in end use

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation announced Wednesday that the standalone monthly seasonally adjusted rate (SAAR) of total housing starts for all areas in Canada increased 13% to 243,959 units in February when compared to 216,514 units in January.

The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) reported Wednesday that home sales recorded over the Canadian MLS® Systems were up 2.3% month-over-month in February. Gains were led by the Greater Toronto and Greater Vancouver areas.

On Wednesday, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) reported that builder sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes increased 2 points in March to a reading of 44. This marks the third consecutive month of gains.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand, seasonally adjusted, decreased 0.1% in February. On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand advanced 4.6% for the twelve-month period ending in February.

According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Application Survey, for the week ending March 10th, the Market Composite Index—a measure of mortgage loan application volume—increased 6.5% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 7.0%.

Statistics Canada reported today that in January, investment in building construction in Canada increased 1.5% to $20.4 billion (CAD), with all components posting gains. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction increased 2.4% to $11.9 billion.

The US Bureau of Labor Statistics on Tuesday reported that the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.4% in February, on a seasonally adjusted basis, after increasing 0.5% in January and declining 0.1% in December. Over the past 12 months, the all-item index has increased 6.0% before seasonal adjustment.

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Mortgage Credit Availability Index report, which analyzes data from the ICE Mortgage Technology, mortgage credit availability decreased in February. Mortgage credit availability has declined eleven times in the past twelve months.

The National Federation of Independent Business reported on Tuesday its NFIB Small Business Optimism Index (SBOI) for February. According to the report, the February SBOI increased 0.6 points to a reading of 90.9—the fourteenth consecutive month that the SBOI has been below the 49-year average reading of 98.

A closer look at the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Nonfarm Payroll Report for January reveals 40 states reported an increase in January when compared to December 2022. Conversely, 7 states reported jobs sector losses. Mississippi remained unchanged.