How Will the Economy Impact Housing for the Rest of 2024?
Limited inventory, higher construction costs and elevated interest rates continue to frustrate prospective home buyers. The new quarterly NAHB/Wells Fargo Cost of Housing Index recently underscored the burden that housing costs represent for middle- and low-income families. And builders are feeling the crunch, too, as noted in the latest NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index.
So what can the housing industry expect for the remainder of the year?
NAHB Chief Economist Robert Dietz and Senior Economist Fan-Yu Kuo will provide an analysis and outlook of key macro issues affecting the economy and the housing industry in an upcoming webinar with Pro Builder magazine on June 26 at 2 p.m. ET.
The webinar will provide attendees with a better understanding of what macroeconomic factors are driving the housing industry in 2024, which key housing policies are affecting their business the most, and how they can prepare their business for what’s to come.
Topics will include:
- Federal Reserve’s monetary policy and current inflation and interest rate readings,
- Immigration,
- Existing home inventory, and
- Other factors affecting the home building industry.
The presentation will also include a live question-and-answer session for attendees.
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Builder and Associate members will work to recruit as many new members as they can by Nov. 30. Winners can earn prizes including LG laundry products and 2027 International Builders' Show perks.
Latest Economic News
The percentage of new apartment units that were absorbed within three months after completion was down five percentage points in the first quarter, according to the Census Bureau’s latest release of the Survey of Market Absorption of New Multifamily Units (SOMA).
New single-family home size had been falling since 2015 in response to declining affordability conditions. An exception occurred in 2021, when new home size increased as interest rates reached historic lows.
The latest report shows the Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge remains sticky in July, complicating the Fed’s path to its long-term 2% target. Meanwhile, consumer spending remains resilient but is showing signs of slowing, with real consumer spending unchanged in July. Households are pulling back on spending amid persistent inflation.