Freddie Mac has released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) for the week ending December 2, 2021. The PMMS reports that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.11% with an average 0.6 point, up slightly from last week when it averaged 3.10%. A year ago, at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.71%.
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Challenger Reports U.S. Job Cuts Declined in November to their Lowest Monthly Total Since May 1993
According to the latest released Job Cut Report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas (CG&C), Inc, a global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm, U.S. based employers announced job cuts fell by -34.8% in November to 14,875 from 22,822 in October. This is the lowest monthly total since May 1993, when 14,086 were reported. November’s total is -77% lower year-over-year (Nov. 2021 vs. Nov. 2020), when 64,797 cuts were announced.
Weekly Jobless Claims Increase in the Week Ending November 27, 2021
The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that an additional 222,000 Americans made their initial filing for unemployment benefits during the week ending on Saturday, November 27, 2021. This is an increase of 28,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 238,750 — a decrease of 12,250 from the previous week’s revised average.
Total Value of Canadian Building Permits Increased 1.3% in October
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported today (12-1-21) that the total value of building permits increased 1.3% to $10.3 billion (CAD) in October. Construction intentions in the non-residential sector were up 4.2%, while the residential sector inched -0.1% lower.
Construction Spending Up Month-Over-Month and Year-Over-Year in October
On Wednesday (12-1-21), The U.S. Census Bureau reported that total construction spending during October 2021 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $1,598.0 billion, 0.2% above the revised September estimate of $1,594.8 billion. The October figure is 8.6% above the October 2020 estimate of $1,471.1 billion.
ADP Reports Private Sector Employment Increased by 534,000 Jobs in November
According to the November ADP® National Employment Report™, nonfarm private sector employment increased by 534,000 jobs from October to November. The report, which is derived from ADP’s actual payroll data, measures the change in total nonfarm private employment each month on a seasonally adjusted basis.
Mortgage Applications Decline Sharply in Week Ending November 26, 2021
According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Application Survey (WMAS), for the week ending November 26, 2021, which includes adjustments for the Thanksgiving holiday, the Market Composite Index (a measure of mortgage loan application volume) decreased -7.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Construction Loans in Q3 2021 Set Post-Great Recession High
According to analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the volume of 1–4-unit residential construction loans made by FDIC-insured institutions increased 6% during Q3 of 2021. The volume of loans rose by $4.9 billion during the quarter.
U.S. Housing Prices Increased 18.5% Year-Over-Year in Q3 2021
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced today (11-30-21) their Housing Price Index (HPI) for Q3 2021. According to the report, year-over-year (Q3 2020 – Q3 2021) home prices rose 18.5%. When compared to Q2 of 2021, they were 4.2% higher. FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly price index for September was up 0.9% from August.
Canadian Real GDP by Industry Increased 0.1% in September, Held Back by Five Consecutive Months of Construction Declines
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported today (11-30-21) that real gross domestic product (GDP) rose 0.1% in September. This occurred as declines in the manufacturing, construction, and retail trades were more than compensated for by expansions in service-producing industries, mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction. However, for the fifth consecutive month construction declined, down -0.7% in September.