Quikrete Industry Dashboard

The latest version of the Quikrete Industry Dashboard shows upward movement in existing home sales. Total existing home sales, including single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 2.5% from June to an annual rate of 5.42 million in July, according to the National Association of Realtors.

“Falling mortgage rates are improving housing affordability and nudging buyers into the market,” said Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chief economist. However, he added that the supply of affordable housing is severely low. “The shortage of lower-priced homes have markedly pushed up home prices.”

Elsewhere on the Dashboard, lumberyard giants BLDR and BMC set the pace on the Stock Roundup. And gas prices have declined 17 cents in the past month.