February New Home Sales Meet Expectations, Pre-Coronavirus

February new home sales dipped a bit, HUD and the Census Bureau reported yesterday. Sales of new single-family houses came in at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 765,000, down by 4.4 percent from the revised January rate of 800,000, but 14.3 percent higher than a year ago (669,000).

Fed Cuts Rates Amid Coronavirus Risks

The Federal Reserve yesterday made an emergency cut to the federal funds rate, citing “evolving risks” stemming from the global coronavirus outbreak.

Mild January Spurs New Home Sales

Mild January weather led to a strong jump in new home sales, HUD and the Census Bureau reported yesterday.

Consumer Confidence Rises Slightly

The Conference Board, New York, said its Consumer Confidence Index rose for the second straight month in February, albeit slightly.

January Housing Starts Down, But Outlook Good

Housing starts started the year on a down note, HUD and the Census Bureau reported yesterday, but the pace remained solid, analysts said.

4th Quarter GDP Up 2.1%

Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the fourth quarter, unchanged from the third quarter, according to the first (advance) estimate released yesterday by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Consumer Confidence Picks Up

The Conference Board, New York, said its monthly Consumer Confidence Index increased for the second straight month in January.

December New Home Sales Down–But Up

December new home sales stumbled, falling by 0.4 percent from November, but overall 2019 results saw a solid increase in sales, HUD and the Census Bureau reported yesterday.