MBA Chart of the Week: MBA, Census Estimates of New Home Sales

This week’s chart shows how the U.S. Census Bureau’s new home sales series has compared to our Builder Applications Survey data from 2019 through May 2020. The BAS has been a reliable leading indicator of Census’ new home sales data.

MBA Education Path to Diversity Scholar Profile: Sharon Wortman

(One of a continuing series of profiles of participants in the MBA Education Path to Diversity (P2D) Scholarship Program, which enables employees from diverse backgrounds to advance their professional growth and career development.)

Quote

“The rise in commercial and multifamily mortgage debt in the first three months of the year carried forward the strong level of activity during 2019. Rising property values, strong incomes and low interest rates supported increased borrowing and lending. With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, borrowing and lending has slowed, and some of the tailwinds from earlier this year have reversed.”
–Jamie Woodwell, MBA Vice President of Commercial Real Estate Research.

The Week Ahead

Good morning! Welcome to a short but busy week ahead of the Independence Day holiday.

May Commercial Real Estate Sales Slump

Real Capital Analytics, New York, reported commercial property sales sank again in May as the COVID-19 crisis kept investors on the sidelines.

Final 1Q GDP Estimate Shows Economic Growth Down 5%

Real gross domestic product decreased by 5 percent in the first quarter, according to the third (final) estimate released Thursday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Initial Claims Level Again at 1.5 Million

American workers filed 1.5 million new applications for jobless benefits last weeks, the Labor Department reported Friday—the third consecutive week at that level, but still at historically high levels in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.