Podcast: Jobs and Wages Make Headlines
On the latest episode of Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez discuss joint legislative activation by NAHB and the Home Builders Institute on the Job Corps defunding issue. Tobin and Lopez also address the Department of Labor’s proposed overtime rule, which could affect more than 3.6 million salaried workers and thousands of businesses, and other congressional activity heading into fall, including the impending vote on a continuing resolution to keep the government funded.
Listen to Housing Developments through your favorite podcast app, or watch this episode below.
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The NAHB International Builders’ Show® (IBS) always features leading experts and luminaries from the housing and real estate industry. The sheer size of the event also attracts talent from other walks of life.
In his latest update, NAHB Chairman Bill Owens highlights the value of serving on a committee or council, and how members can apply.
Latest Economic News
Housing’s share of the economy was 15.7% in the third quarter of 2026, according to the latest estimates of GDP produced by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. This share is down from 15.8% in the second quarter and down from 16.0% a year ago. Residential construction, measured by residential fixed investment, fell for the sixth time over the past eight quarters.
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge accelerated in September after holding at 3.0% for three consecutive months, complicating the Fed’s path to its 2% target. Consumer spending continued to be pushed up by elevated energy prices rather than income growth, driving the personal saving rate to the lowest level in nearly four years.
The U.S. economy grew at a faster pace in the third quarter of 2026, supported by stronger consumer spending, robust business investment, and increased government spending. However, residential investment remained a weak spot, highlighting the continued challenges facing the housing sector amid elevated borrowing costs.