Existing-home sales activity declined 9.8% in February, the largest month-over-month decline in activity since May 2022, CREA reported.
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Higher Softwood Lumber Prices Continue to Impact Cost of US Residential Building Materials
Prices for inputs to new residential construction—excluding capital investment, labor, and imports—increased 0.5% in February, the BLS and NAHB reported.
University of Michigan Releases Preliminary Results of Its Consumer Sentiment Index for March
The Index of Consumer Sentiment declined to a reading of 57.9 in March—a month-over-month decline of 10.5% and down 27.1% year-over-year.
US Producer Price Index Increases 3.2% Year-Over-Year in February
On an unadjusted basis, the Producer Price Index (PPI) for final demand increased 3.2% year-over-year.
US Mortgage Rates Creep Higher in the Week Ending March 13
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.65%, up from last week when it averaged 6.63%, Freddie Mac reported.
Canadian Building Permit Values Decline 3.2% in January
The value of building permits issued in Canada decreased 3.2%, or CA$425.8 million, to $12.8 billion in January.
US New-Home Purchase Mortgage Applications Increase 0.3% in February
Mortgage applications for new-home purchases increased 0.3% in February, MBA reported. Year-over-year, mortgage applications decreased 6.9%.
US Weekly Initial Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending March 8
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 220,000, a decrease of 2,000 from the previous week’s revised total.
Bank of Canada Reduces Its Target Overnight Interest Rate Amid Uncertainty of US Tariffs
The Bank of Canada reduced its target for the overnight rate by 0.25% to 2.75%, with the Bank Rate at 3.00% and the deposit rate at 2.70%.
US Consumer Price Index Rises 2.8% Year-Over-Year in February
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers increased 0.2% on a seasonally adjusted basis in February. Over the past 12 months, the all-items index increased 2.8% before seasonal adjustment.