News in end use

The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial unemployment claims was 202,000 during the week ending January 6th, a decrease of 1,000.

Mortgage loan application volume increased 9.9% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier, according to the MBA.

The total monthly value of building permits in Canada decreased 3.9% month-over-month to $10.9 billion (CAD) in November.

The Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI) decreased 4.6% to a reading of 92.1 in December.

In November, total consumer credit outstanding reached a seasonally adjust annual rate (SAAR) of $5.00 trillion for the first time, the Fed and NAHB reported.

The National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Optimism Index increased 1.3 points to a reading of 91.9 in December.

The Fannie Mae Home Purchase Sentiment Index® increased 2.9 points in December to a reading of 67.2. Year-over-year, the full HPSI was up 6.2 points.

In November, construction sector jobs—including both residential and nonresidential—increased month-over-month in 27 states and declined in 20 states and the District of Columbia, NAHB reported.

The median US asking rent fell 0.8% year-over-year to $1,964 in December, Redfin reported. Month-over-month, rents were 0.2% lower.

Overall employment in the construction sector increased by 17,000 in December, following an increase of 6,000 in November, according to BLS and NAHB.