Haver Analytics
Haver Analytics
Global| Sep 27 2012

U.S. Pending Home Sales Fall Back

Summary

Pending sales of single-family homes fell 2.6% last month and reversed the July gain, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Sales have risen nearly one-third from the 2010 low. Sales drooped last month across most [...]


Pending sales of single-family homes fell 2.6% last month and reversed the July gain, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). Sales have risen nearly one-third from the 2010 low.

Sales drooped last month across most of the country led by a 7.2% decline (-4.2% y/y) in the West. Sales in the Midwest followed with a 2.6% drop (+19.9% y/y) while sales in the South fell 1.1% (+13.2% y/y). Home sales in the Northeast ticked up 0.9% (19.9% y/y).

Pending home sales figures are analogous to the new home sales data from the Commerce Department in that they measure existing home sales when the sales contract is signed, not at the time the sale is closed. The series dates back to 2001 and the data are available in Haver's PREALTOR database.

 

Pending Home Sales (2001=100) Aug Jul Jun Y/Y% 2011 2010 2009
Total 99.2 101.9 99.3 10.7 90.3 89.2 94.7
Northeast 78.2 77.5 76.6 19.9 68.0 70.9 76.8
Midwest 95.0 97.5 94.2 19.9 81.6 79.9 88.9
South 110.4 111.6 106.2 13.2 98.3 97.0 98.4
West 102.5 110.4 111.8 -4.2 104.2 100.8 109.2
  • 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.

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