New Home Sales Rise Modestly in January
|New home sales rose 3.7 percent in January after a 7.0 percent drop in December. Sales for November and October were revised down, possibly reflecting increased cancellations following the jump in mortgage rates.
A Slightly Weaker Trend for New Home Sales
-
While new home sales rose in line with expectations, sales were revised down by 27,000 units for the prior three months. The lower sales figures suggest the post-election bump in mortgage rates took a larger bite out of sales, which are purchase contracts, and may have triggered an increase in cancellations.
-
With the downward revisions, new home sales now total 561,000 units for 2016, 12 percent higher than the prior year.
Wet Weather May Be Holding Down Sales in the West
-
Sales rose in every region except the West during January. The unusually wet winter may have held back sales in January but sales are still trending higher on 3-month moving average basis.
-
The drop in sales in the higher-priced West, combined with gains in the South and Midwest, helped moderate the rise in average and median new home prices. The average price has fallen 1.3 percent since last January while the median is up 7.5 percent.
Information on these pages contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Markets and instruments profiled on this page are for informational purposes only and should not in any way come across as a recommendation to buy or sell in these assets. You should do your own thorough research before making any investment decisions. FXStreet does not in any way guarantee that this information is free from mistakes, errors, or material misstatements. It also does not guarantee that this information is of a timely nature. Investing in Open Markets involves a great deal of risk, including the loss of all or a portion of your investment, as well as emotional distress. All risks, losses and costs associated with investing, including total loss of principal, are your responsibility. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of FXStreet nor its advertisers.