Payroll employment decreased 0.3% (49,000) in February, following a 0.1% increase (14,400) in January. Year-over-year, payroll employment was up 0.7% (124,300).
News in end use
University of Michigan Releases Final Results of Its Consumer Sentiment Index for April
The Index of Consumer Sentiment declined to a reading of 52.2 in April, a month-over-month decline of 8.4% and a 32.4% decrease year-over-year.
Total Commercial Real Estate Borrowing and Lending Increases 16% in 2024
Total commercial real estate mortgage borrowing and lending reached $498 billion in 2024, a 16% increase from 2023, MBA reported.
US Existing-Home Sales Decline 5.9% in March
Existing-home sales declined 5.9% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.02 million in March, NAR reported.
US Mortgage Rates Trend Lower in the Week Ending April 24
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.81%, down from last week when it averaged 6.83%, Freddie Mac reported.
US Mortgage Application Payments Decrease in March
The national median payment applied for by purchase applicants fell from $2,205 in February to $2,173 in March, MBA reported.
US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Climb in the Week Ending April 19
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 222,000, an increase of 6,000 from the previous week’s revised total.
US New Residential Single-Family Home Sales Rise 7.4% in March
New residential single-family home sales for March were at a SAAR of 724,000, 7.4% above the revised February rate.
Mortgage Applications Decline in the Week Ending April 18
Mortgage loan application volume declined 12.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, MBA reported.
Canadian Industrial Product and Raw Materials Price Indexes for March
Prices for lumber and other wood products rose 3.1% March, following two months of declines.