The Federal Reserve concluded its 2-day Federal Open Market Committee meeting on Wednesday June 6th and at its conclusion announced that it will hold interest rates near zero.
News in end use
Consumer Price Index Posts Third Straight Monthly Decline in May
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) is reporting that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined -0.1% in May on a seasonally adjusted basis after falling -0.8% in April.
Mortgage Applications Spike in Week Ending June 5th 2020
According to data from the MBA Weekly Mortgage Application Survey, for the week ending June 5th, 2020, the Market Composite Index increased 9.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Reports Construction Sector Layoffs Surged in April
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Job Openings Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS), there was a clear and sudden stop associated with the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on the construction labor market.
Total U.S. Consumer Credit Declines Further in April
According to the latest Federal Reserve’s G.19 Consumer Credit Report, consumer credit, excluding loads secured by real estate, decreased at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 19.6%, through April of 2020.
National Bureau of Economic Research Confirms U.S. Officially in a Recession
According to the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) the U.S. is now officially in a recession, the worst downturn since the Great Depression.
Canadian Housing Starts and Completion Trend Lower in May
According to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s monthly Starts and Completion Survey for May 2020, the trend in housing starts was 196,750 units in May 2020, down from 198,644 units in April 2020.
Multifamily Construction Continues to Grow Faster in Lower Density Population Areas
In a deeper dive into the latest analysis of the NAHB Geography Index, single-family construction was shown to be growing at a faster pace in regions with lower population density.
Unemployment Rate Declines in May Just as Nonfarm Employment Rises Sharply
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) total nonfarm payroll in May rose by 2.5 million and the unemployment rate declined to 13.3%.
FEA’s Weekly Order Survey Reports Slower Paced Sales to Start June
Many dealers are reporting that better than anticipated sales for April and May, have given way to a somewhat slower pace to start June.