Podcast: Chief Economist Explains Fed Interest Rate Approach and Impact
In the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, CEO Jim Tobin and SVP Paul Lopez are joined by Chief Economist Dr. Robert Dietz to discuss the Federal Reserve’s decision this week to leave interest rates unchanged.
Dietz explains how three potential rate decreases in 2024 could impact the home building and real estate markets next year and into 2025, and what further actions the Fed could take to help the industry.
Also, hear about some great recent wins by the NAHB Advocacy team in the last podcast episode of 2023.
Subscribe to Housing Developments through your favorite podcast provider, or watch the episode below or on YouTube.
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On the latest episode of NAHB’s podcast, Housing Developments, COO Paul Lopez and guest host Karl Eckhart, NAHB VP of State and Local Government Affairs, welcome Mayor Paul Young of Memphis, Tenn.
Buyers need enough money left over each month to live comfortably. And builders need enough margin and capital left over to keep building. Understanding the buyers' needs is essential to protecting your business.
Latest Economic News
The Producer Price Index for final demand was up 0.3% in October, after rising 1.4% in September. Compared to a year ago, final demand prices were up 6.5%.
Credit conditions on loans for residential Land Acquisition, Development & Construction (AD&C) were still tightening in the third quarter of 2026, according to NAHB’s quarterly survey on AD&C Financing. The net easing index derived from the survey posted a third-quarter reading of -15.3 (the negative number indicating net tightening).
After a brief rebound last month, existing home sales plummeted to a 16-year low in October. With mortgage rates back above 7% since mid-September and home prices still elevated, buyers continued to stay on the sidelines.