News in end use

The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 211,000, a decrease of 11,000 from last week’s revised level.

The total value of building permits in Canada increased 9.3% month-over-month to $11.8 billion (CAD) in February. Residential permits increased 7.4% to $7.1 billion.

The Mortgage Bankers Association Market Composite Index increased 0.1% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, ending four consecutive weeks of declines.

The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) increased 0.4% in March, seasonally adjusted, following a similar 0.4% increase in February.

Tthe median US asking rent rose 0.8% year-over-year to $1,987 in March, marking the third consecutive monthly increase, Redfin reported.

Canadian Prime Minster Justin Trudeau has announced a $6 billion (CAD) fund to build critical infrastructure, Ontario Construction News reported.

The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Credit Availability Index increased 1.1% to a reading of 93.9 in March, the third consecutive monthly increase.

The National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index declined 0.9 to a reading of 88.5, the lowest level since December 2012.

The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index dropped for the first time since November 2023, declining 0.9 points to a reading of 71.9.

Employment in construction increased by 39,000 in March, following an upwardly revised gain of 26,000 in February, the Census Bureau and NAHB reported.