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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Latest Economic News
Consumer credit growth accelerated in the third quarter of 2026, with both revolving and nonrevolving credit increasing at their fastest quarterly rates since 2022. Total outstanding consumer credit reached $5.22 trillion, continuing an upward trend that has strengthened over the past year.
Inflation remained elevated in October even as energy prices eased, raising expectations of another Fed rate hike. Shelter returned as the largest driver of headline inflation, accounting for over 30% of the monthly increase. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy components, rose by 0.3% for the third consecutive month, suggesting broad-based price pressures across the economy.
Wage growth for residential building workers showed signs of a modest rebound in September 2026 following a sharp slowdown earlier in the year. According to the latest data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nominal wage growth picked up from its June pace, although it remained relatively modest.