Research

Orlando, Fla. -- The annual Housing and Economic Outlook at the 2011 International Builders' Show had some relatively good news for attendees.

Sales of new single-family houses in November 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 290,000, according to estimates released jointly by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development -- a 5.5% increase over October.

Arlington, Va. -- Key housing metrics are in for a slow ride in 2011, and a quick upturn in 2012, according to the forecast from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Delivering the MBA's forecast here at the

Hardware store sales increased slightly in 2010, according to government data released Tuesday.  

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) interpreted a rise in pending home sales as a sign of a gradual housing market recovery in 2011. The NAR's Lawrence Yun, the group's chief economist, added that further economic gains are needed to realize a recovery.

While more than one-third of Americans are aware of the federal phaseout of incandescent light bulbs, the majority of consumers have yet to learn that the 100-watt bulb is scheduled to disappear from store shelves beginning in 2012.

The Department of Commerce's residential construction report released today shows both total starts and single-family starts for March are up over February, but way down compared with March 2010.

Bad weather deserves part of the blame for the decline in January single-family housing starts, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).

Sales of new single-family houses in December 2010 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 329,000, up 17.5% from the November pace of 280,000. 

New home sales in March increased to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 300,000, according to data released today by the Department of Commerce.

RISI, a leading provider of information about the forest products industry, has announced the appointment of Wade Camp as senior wood products economist. Camp comes to RISI from the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, where he held the title of director of economic services. 

Existing-home sales estimates began 2011 on a positive note: up 2.7% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.36 million. That's up from a downwardly revised 5.22 million in December.