Economy/Ecommerce
Economy Watch: Zillow Reports Higher Home Values
Zillow reported on Tuesday that its Home Value Index was up 6 percent year-over-year in July, to a value of $161,600.
Economy Watch: Most States See Annual Unemployment Drop
Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia experienced unemployment rate increases in July compared with June, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
‘Economy Watch’ Podcast with Dees Stribling: Homebuilders are Happy
Homebuilders are happy, and there’s no inflation to speak of.
Economy Watch: Housing Starts Up in July
Housing starts continued their upward trajectory in July, with private starts coming in at an annualized rate of 896,000 units, a 5.9 percent increase compared with June, the Census Bureau reported.
‘Economy Watch’ Podcast with Dees Stribling: Long-Term Real Estate Investment is Down
Wages and salaries are up, but long-term investment in real estate is down.
Economy Watch: Mortgage Delinquencies, Foreclosures Drop in 2Q
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported that the delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to 6.96 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the second quarter of 2013, the lowest level since mid-2008.
Economy Watch: Real Estate Investment Still Low
The Bureau of Economic Analysis released some of the underlying details of last week’s preliminary GDP report, including information about real estate investment trends, by measuring such investments as a percentage of GDP.
Economy Watch: More Evidence of Higher Home Prices
Case-Shiller’s most recent numbers last week pointed to sustained growth in U.S. home valuations, though the report was for the three months ending in May.
Economy Watch: Lenders Ease Their Standards (a Bit) in 2Q
According to the Federal Reserve, reporting in its July 2013 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices, domestic banks claim (on balance) to have eased their lending standards, and have experienced stronger demand for loans over the past three months.