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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According to the most recent NAHB member census, nearly two-fifths (38%) of NAHB Builder members earned between $1 million and $5 million in total revenue in 2025.
To help industry professionals stay ahead of residential construction trends and bring actionable ideas to their businesses, NAHB is offering members exclusive access to the most valuable IBS Education sessions from the 2026 show.
Latest Economic News
Residential building material prices, excluding energy, rose 0.2% in August and were up 5.1% from a year ago. Energy prices rose sharply in August, as prices for energy inputs to residential construction rose 6.6% over the month.
Mortgage application activity continued to decline in August as elevated US treasury yields pushed mortgage rates higher. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, declined 3.2% month-over-month in August on a seasonally adjusted basis, marking the sixth consecutive monthly decline.
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) conducts an annual census to better understand the composition and characteristics of its members. In 2025, 35% of NAHB’s membership was comprised of builder members—single-family and multifamily builders, residential and commercial remodelers, commercial builders, land developers, and manufacturers of modular/panelized/log homes.