Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Aug 23 2006

U.S. Existing Home Sales Down

Summary

The National Association of Realtors reported that total existing home sales fell 4.1% during July to 6.330M, the fourth consecutive m/m decline. The decline compared to Consensus expectations for a lesser decline to 6.55M. Sales of [...]


The National Association of Realtors reported that total existing home sales fell 4.1% during July to 6.330M, the fourth consecutive m/m decline. The decline compared to Consensus expectations for a lesser decline to 6.55M. Sales of single-family homes fell 5.0%, the sixth m/m decline this year. Versus the first seven months of 2005 sales this year are down 5.4%. The data cover sales closed in the latest and previous months and contrast to the new home sales data which count sales at the signing of a contract. Sales in the Northeast fell 8.5% m/m (-12.8% y/y) and in the Midwest sales fell 6.7% (-11.3% y/y). In the South sales slipped 2.1% (-6.9% y/y) and in the West (-14.1% y/y) sales dropped 6.3% (-18.4% y/y). The median price of an existing single-family home ticked up 0.5% m/m and prior year's figures were revised up. The price figures are not seasonally adjusted. The inventory of unsold existing homes surged another 3.2% (39.9% y/y). The supply of unsold single family homes rose 2.5% (40.4% y/y) and the supply of condos & coops for sale rose 7.3% m/m (36.9% y/y). The latest release from the National Association of Realtors is available here.

Reflections on monetary policy: Flexibility, transparency and inflation from the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago is available here.

Existing Home Sales (000, AR) July June Y/Y 2005 2004 2003
Total Home Sales  6,330 6,600 -11.2% 7,064 6,722 6,176
  Single Family Home Sales 5,510 5,800 -11.4% 6,170 5,912 5,443
Single Family Median Home Price (000) $231.2 $230.1 1.5% $217.5 $192.8 $178.3
  • Prior to joining Haver Analytics in 2000, Mr. Moeller worked as the Economist at Chancellor Capital Management from 1985 to 1999. There, he developed comprehensive economic forecasts and interpreted economic data for equity and fixed income portfolio managers. Also at Chancellor, Mr. Moeller worked as an equity analyst and was responsible for researching and rating companies in the economically sensitive automobile and housing industries for investment in Chancellor’s equity portfolio.   Prior to joining Chancellor, Mr. Moeller was an Economist at Citibank from 1979 to 1984.   He also analyzed pricing behavior in the metals industry for the Council on Wage and Price Stability in Washington, D.C.   In 1999, Mr. Moeller received the award for most accurate forecast from the Forecasters' Club of New York. From 1990 to 1992 he was President of the New York Association for Business Economists.   Mr. Moeller earned an M.B.A. in Finance from Fordham University, where he graduated in 1987. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from George Washington University.

    More in Author Profile »

More Economy in Brief