News in end use

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported today, in its annual report on the multifamily lending market, that in 2021 there were 2,215 different multifamily lenders that provided a total of $487.3 billion in new mortgages for apartment buildings of 5 or more units.

On Tuesday, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary for June 2022. According to the report, as of the last day in June, the number of job openings decreased to 10.7 million, down 605,000, or 6.6%. The largest decrease in job openings was in retail trade, down 343,000.

On Monday, the US Census Bureau reported that total construction spending during June 2022 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,762.3 billion, 1.1% below the revised May estimate of $1,781.9 billion. The June figure is 8.3% above the June 2021 estimate of $1,628.0 billion.

According to the latest Housing Trends Report (HTR), the popularity of new homes rebounded in Q2 of 2022 after declining steadily for the previous five quarters. The HTR is reporting that 21% of prospective buyers reported looking at a newly built home in Q2, up from 19% in Q1.

Statistics Canada reported today that real GDP was essentially unchanged in May, following a 0.3% increase in April. Growth in services-producing industries of 0.4% was offset by a decline in goods-producing industries of 1.0%. Overall, 14 of the 20 industry sectors tracked reported increases.

The US Bureau of Economic Analysis reported on Friday that, according to their estimates, personal income increased $133.5 billion, or 0.6%, in June. Disposable personal income increased $120.4 billion, or 0.7%, in June. Personal consumption expenditures increased $181.1 billion, or 1.1%, in June.

The University of Michigan today released its final Consumer Sentiment Index (CSI) for July. The Index of Consumer Sentiment increased to a reading of 51.5 in July, up from its 50.0 reading in June. This is a month-over-month increase of 3.0% but down 36.6% year-over-year (81.2 in July 2021).

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released today its “advance” estimate for real gross domestic product (GDP) in Q2 of 2022. According to the report, GDP decreased at an annual rate of 0.9% in Q2. This follows a GDP decline of 1.6% in Q1.

The Mortgage Bankers Association reported on Thursday that, according to its Purchase Applications Payment Index, homebuyer affordability was mostly unchanged in June. The national median payment applied for by applicants was down slightly to $1,893 from $1,897 in May.

Freddie Mac has released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) for the week ending July 28. The PMMS reports that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.30% with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.54%.