Housing starts down but permits surge
U.S. builders broke ground on fewer homes in April, one month after topping the 1 million mark for the first time since 2008.
View ArticleInsurers hit by housing crash lure hedge funds
Hedge funds led by Paulson & Co. and Maverick Capital are piling into mortgage insurers in a bet that some of the companies worst hit by the housing crash will be among the biggest winners in the...
View ArticleToll Brothers tops estimates as orders jump
Toll Brothers Inc., the largest U.S. luxury-home builder, reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that beat analyst estimates as demand jumped and orders reached the highest level in seven years.
View ArticleU.S. new-home sales up 2.3 percent in April
U.S. sales of new homes rose in April and nearly matched the fastest pace in five years, driving the median price to a record high
View ArticleEconomy grew at 2.4% rate in Q1
Consumer spending was stronger than first thought, but businesses restocked more slowly and state and local government spending cuts were deeper.
View ArticleU.S. construction spending up 0.4 percent in April
Construction activity has been volatile in recent months, falling by a record 4 percent in January, but rising in February only to drop in March.
View ArticleServices gains show companies confident
Service industries expanded at a faster pace in May as a pickup in orders showed companies are confident demand will be sustained after a second- quarter slowdown.
View ArticleU.S. retail sales jump 0.6 percent in May
Americans stepped up purchases at retail businesses in May, spending more on cars, home improvements and sporting goods.
View ArticleHomebuilder confidence rises to seven-year high
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo index of builder sentiment rose 8 points, the biggest monthly increase since September 2002.
View ArticleU.S. home construction rises 6.8 percent in May
Builders stepped up home construction in May and applied for permits to build single-family homes at the fastest pace in five years.
View ArticleNew-home sales hit fastest pace in 5 years
New-home sales rose 2.1 percent last month compared with April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 476,000.
View ArticleSenate confirms Pritzker as commerce secretary
The 97-1 vote installs Penny Pritzker, a longtime fundraiser and friend of President Barack Obama, in time to assist in trade talks with the European Union and Pacific Rim nations.
View ArticleTax bite curbs spending growth
Growth in the world’s largest economy was less than originally estimated in the first quarter as an increase in the U.S. payroll tax took a bigger bite out of consumer spending than previously calculated.
View ArticleU.S. construction spending edges up in May
Construction spending rose 0.5 percent in May compared with April when spending was up 0.1 percent, the Commerce Department said Monday.
View ArticleFed aims to ensure U.S. housing recovery
The Fed may concentrate on trimming purchases of Treasurys, while continuing to buy mortgage bonds to keep a lid on interest rates for home loans.
View ArticleUS builders start work on fewer homes in June
Despite June's decline, builders started work on 10 percent more homes last month compared with a year earlier. And permits are 16 percent higher than a year ago.
View ArticleSubprime borrowers with good scores denied help
A refinancing program in Oregon aimed at helping home owners refinance loans not guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac may become a model for other states as prospects for a program on a national...
View ArticleU.S. home prices up in May by most since 2006
Historically low borrowing costs, short supply and improving job market are boosting demand for residential property and driving prices up.
View ArticleU.S. construction spending slips in June
Spending on U.S. construction projects fell in June by the largest amount in five months as government building activity declined to the lowest level since 2006.
View ArticleUncle Sam a tougher customer for small businesses
On average, small businesses spent more than $128,000 in labor costs and other expenses in 2012 to pursue government contracts — up 49 percent from 2010.
View Article
