Freddie Mac has released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) for the week ending May 19, 2022. The PMMS reports that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.25% with an average 0.9 point, down from last week when it averaged 5.30%.
Wood Markets News
The Conference Board Reports U.S. Leading Economic Index® Declines in April 2022
The Conference Board, a non-partisan, not-for-profit think tank founded in 1916, released today (5-19-22) the Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. in April of 2022. According to the report, the LEI declined -0.3% to a reading of 119.2 (2016=100), following a 0.1% increase in March and a 0.6% increase in February.
Weekly Jobless Claims Inch Higher in the Week Ending May 14, 2022
The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that an additional 218,000 Americans (seasonally adjusted) made their initial filing for unemployment benefits during the week ending on Saturday, May 14, 2022. This is an increase of 21,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 199,500.
Privately Owned Housing Starts, Permits, and Completions All Fall Month-Over-Month in April 2022
The U.S. Census Bureau reported on Wednesday (5-18-22) that privately‐owned housing starts in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 1,724,000. This is -0.2% below the revised March estimate of 1,728,000 but is 14.6% above the April 2021 rate of 1,505,000. Single-family housing starts in April were at a rate of 1,100,000.
The Single-Family Built-for-Rent Sector Continues to Expand as Housing Affordability Declines
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Quarterly Starts and Completion by Purpose and Design report for Q1 of 2022, with additional analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), the single-family built-for-rent sector (SFBFR) continues to expand as housing affordability hurdles continue to increase.
Largest Ever Mass Timber Building Fire Test to Be Conducted This June by Researchers in Ottawa, Canada
In a project to support market acceptance of tall and large mass timber buildings in Canada, the Canadian Wood Council (CWC) has partnered with both federal and provincial governments to conduct a series of five separate fire research burns on a full-scale mass timber structure in Ottawa. The largest burn is scheduled for some time in June.
Home Sale Bidding Wars Slow for Second Consecutive Month in April
Redfin, the Seattle-based, technology powered real estate company, reported today (5-18-22) that, nationwide, 60.7% of home offers written by Redfin agents in April encountered competition on seasonally annual adjusted basis. This is the lowest level seen since March of 2021. The statistic is down from a revised rate of 63.4% in March.
Mortgage Applications Decline in the Week Ending May 13, 2022
According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, for the week ending May 13, 2022, the Market Composite Index (a measure of mortgage loan application volume) declined -11.0% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index declined -11.0% compared with the previous week.
Japanese Government to Offer Financial Aid to Companies Switching From Imported to Domestic Lumber
Following the Japanese’s governments ban of lumber imports from Russia, as part of Tokyo’s economic sanctions for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Japan’s Forestry Agency announced plans today (5-17-22) to offer financial aid to companies switching their lumber consumption from foreign to domestic sources.
Canadian Investment in Building Construction Up in March, Completing Strong Q1 Results
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported today (5-17-22) that the investment in building construction in March rose 1.8% to $20.3 billion (CAD), a new record high. Gains were reported in both the residential and non-residential sector. On a constant dollar basis (2012=100), investment in building construction increased 1% to $12.3 billion.