Job vacancies declined 3.6%, or 24,300, to 648,600 in Q1. This marks the seventh consecutive quarterly decline.
News in end use
Canadian Housing Starts Rise in May
The standalone SAAR of total housing starts for all areas in Canada in May was 264,506 units—a month-over-month increase of 10%—CMHC reported.
Investment in Canadian Building Construction Declines in April
Investment in building construction decreased 2.0% month-over-month to $20.5 billion (CAD) in April.
Canadian Existing-Home Sales Trend Lower in May
Home sales activity recorded over Canadian MLS® Systems declined 0.6% between April and May, CREA reported. Home prices moved sideways.
US Existing-Home Sales Decline in May as Home Prices Continue to Climb
US existing-home sales fell 1.7% month-over-month and 2.9% year-over-year on a seasonally adjusted basis, Redfin reported.
US Residential Building Materials Prices Little Changed in May
Inputs to residential construction, goods less food and energy, declined 0.09% in May, the BLS and NAHB reported.
Associated Builders and Contractors Construction Backlog Indicator Declines in May
The ABC Construction Backlog Indicator declined to 8.3 months in May. Year-over-year, the indicator is down 0.6 months.
University of Michigan Reports Preliminary Results of Its Consumer Sentiment Index for June
The University of Michigan’s Index of Consumer Sentiment declined to a reading of 65.6 in June. This is a month-over-month decline of 5.1% but up 2.2% year-over-year.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages Decline Further in the Week Ending June 13th
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.95%, down from last week when it averaged 6.99%, Freddie Mac reported.
Mortgage Applications for New-Home Purchases Trend Higher in May
Mortgage applications for new-home purchases increased 1.0% month-over-month and 13.8% year-over-year, MBA reported.