May New Home Sales Post Healthy 16.6% Gain

Home buyer enthusiasm for new homes intensified in May, HUD and the Census Bureau reported yesterday, jumping by 16.6 percent from April and by nearly 13 percent from a year ago.

May Existing Home Sales Down Nearly 10%–But Analysts See Upside

Existing home sales fell by nearly 10 percent in May from April—the third consecutive monthly decline in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak—the National Association of Realtors reported yesterday. But analysts saw positive signals despite the drop, as first-time buyer and Millennial demand showed signs of intensifying.

Unemployment Claims Plateau, Remain Elevated

More than 1.5 million Americans filed initial claims for unemployment insurance last week virtually unchanged from the previous week and at historically elevated levels for the 12th consecutive week, the Labor Department reported yesterday.

May Housing Starts Post Modest Increase

HUD and the Census Bureau yesterday reported May housing starts improved by 4.3 percent, stopping a two-month freefall in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Americans File 1.54 Million More Initial Claims

More than 1.5 million Americans filed new claims for unemployment insurance during the first week of June, the Labor Department reported Thursday—the lowest level since the start of the coronavirus pandemic but still well above historic norms.

Wells Fargo Securities on Retail’s Future

Measures taken to contain coronavirus harmed the retail sector, but the pandemic might re-shape retail in positive ways, said Wells Fargo Securities, Charlotte, N.C.

2Q GDP Revised Down to -5%

Real gross domestic product decreased at an annual rate of 5 percent in the first quarter, according to the second (revised) estimate by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, down from 4.8 percent in last month’s advance (first) estimate. It also reported corporate profits fell sharply in the first quarter as the impact of the coronavirus pandemic took hold.

April New Home Sales Reflect Growing Purchaser Confidence

After several months of brutish news, in which home builder confidence fell to an eight-year low, HUD and the Census Bureau had some good news: April new home sales rose for the first time since January.

Consumer Confidence Stabilizes After Spring Freefall

Consumers took a deep breath in May, and it showed. The Conference Board, New York, reported its Consumer Confidence Index held steady in May, following sharp declines in March April that saw it drop to its lowest level in six years.