Which Housing Markets Are Growing the Fastest?

Awards | IBS

Feb 23, 2026

NAHB’s Best in American Living Awards Highlight Top Design Trends for 2026

NAHB received nearly 650 application submissions for the 2025 Best in American Living™ Awards, sponsored by Smeg. The winners—66 Gold winners who took home top honors and 159 Silver winners—were announced last week at the NAHB International Builders’ Show in Orlando.

Workforce Development

Feb 23, 2026

How Students are Turning Classrooms into Residential Construction Launchpads

From showcase homes to hands-on jobsite shadowing, high school students are taking more immersive pathways toward potential careers in construction.

Economics

Feb 20, 2026

New Home Sales Close 2025 with Modest Gains

New home sales ended 2025 on a mixed but resilient note, signaling steady underlying demand despite ongoing affordability and supply constraints. The latest data released today (and delayed because of the government shutdown in fall of 2025) indicate that while month-to-month activity shows a small decline, sales remain stronger than a year ago, signaling that buyer interest in newly built homes has improved.

Economics

Feb 20, 2026

U.S. Economy Ends 2025 on a Slower Note

Real GDP growth slowed sharply in the fourth quarter of 2025 as the historic government shutdown weighed on economic activity. While consumer spending continued to drive growth, federal government spending subtracted over a full percentage point from overall growth.

Economics

Feb 19, 2026

Delinquency Rates Normalize While Credit Card and Student Loan Stress Worsens

Delinquent consumer loans have steadily increased as pandemic distortions fade, returning broadly to pre-pandemic levels. According to the latest Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, 4.8% of outstanding household debt was delinquent at the end of 2025, 0.3 percentage points higher than the third quarter of 2025 and 1.2% higher from year-end 2024.