The volume of 1–4-unit residential construction loans made by FDIC-insured institutions declined 2.5% in 2023Q4, the NAHB reported.
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US Construction Employment Posts Solid Gain in February
Employment in construction increased by 23,000 in February, the BLS and NAHB reported.
US Nonfarm Payroll Increases by 275,000 in February; Unemployment Climbs to 3.9%
Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 275,000 in February, above the average monthly gain of 230,000 over the prior 12 months.
Canadian Employment Increases in February; Unemployment Inches Higher to 5.8%
Canadian employment increased by 41,000 jobs in February. The unemployment rate increased 0.1 percentage points to 5.8%.
Value of Building Permits in Canada Climbs Higher in January
The total value of building permits in Canada increased 13.5% month-over-month in January to $10.8 billion (CAD).
Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index Increases for Third Consecutive Month in February
The Fannie Mae Home Purchasing Sentiment Index® (HPSI) increased 2.1 points in February to a reading of 72.8.
Construction Sector Employment Slips in January’s Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey
The construction labor market experienced a decline in construction job openings in January, NAHB analysis shows.
Fixed-Rate Mortgages Edge Lower in the Week Ending March 7th
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.88%, down from last week when it averaged 6.94%, Freddie Mac reported.
US Weekly Jobless Claims Unchanged in the Week Ending March 2nd
The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 217,000 during the week ending March 2nd, unchanged from last week.
Private Sector Job Cuts Increase 3.0% Month-Over-Month in February
US-based employers announced 84,638 job cuts in February, a 3.0% increase from January, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas, Inc.