2021 New Home Sales Off to Solid Start

The report said sales of new single-family houses in January rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 923,000, 4.3 percent higher than the revised December rate of 885,000 and 19.3 percent higher than a year ago (774,000).

Consumer Confidence Gains Momentum

Americans are apparently tired of living in a bubble and eager to break out of the winter/pandemic doldrums, if The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index is any indication.

January Existing Home Sales Push to 2006 Levels

Existing home sales posted a modest 0.6 percent increase in January, the National Association of Realtors reported Friday, continuing just enough momentum to mark the highest annual pace since 2006.

Initial Claims, Continued Claims Remain Elevated

Initial claims for unemployment insurance jumped by nearly 13,000 last week, while the previous week’s claims revised up by 55,000–a pointed reminder of the uneven pace of the country’s economic recovery.

Unemployment Claims Show Little Progress

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell last week, the Labor Department reported, but an upward revision to the previous week’s results negated any progress toward a normalizing economy.

January Employment Picture Brightens a Little

Employers added 49,000 jobs in January, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Friday. And while the unemployment rate fell from 6.7% to 6.3%, Americans are still dealing with nearly 10 million jobs fewer than a year ago as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Initial Claims Show Improving Trend

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell for the third straight week to their lowest level since November, the Labor Department reported yesterday, signaling the economy could be heading toward more stable footing.

Jobless Claims Show Incremental Improvement

Initial claims for unemployment insurance fell to 847,000 for the week ending Jan. 23, the Labor Department reported yesterday, a reminder that numbers will continue to remain elevated until a comprehensive pandemic response takes hold.