Looking back at June’s results (released in July) it safe to say that the weakening demand and an ongoing mortgage credit crisis are continuing to weigh heavily on the nation’s housing markets, sending them spiraling down yet another leg in this unprecedented housing decline.
The advance GDP Report for Q2 2007 continued to show a significant drag coming from the decline in residential fixed investment as well as significant revisions to past GDP results better demonstrating the pronounced effects this drag has had for the last four quarters.
The following chart shows real residential and non-residential fixed investment versus overall GDP since Q1 2003 (click for larger version).
The housing weakness also appears to clearly show up in retail sales as consumers pullback on spending for some of the most discretionary of goods.
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their fifth consecutive downward revision to their annual home sales forecast for 2007 putting the current outlook far below the “rose colored” initial predictions from the start of the year.
Homebuilder confidence continues to decline to near multi-decade lows with respondents indicating that estimates of “present” and “future” conditions as well as buyer traffic continues to slump.
The Census Department’s New Residential Construction Report which continued to indicate significant weakness in the nation’s housing markets and for residential construction showing substantial declines on a year-over-year basis to single family permits both nationally and across every region.
The Census Department’s New Residential Home Sales Report that, renewed declines, even accelerating in some regions, as well as significant downward revisions to last month’s results.
As with prior months, on a year-over-year basis sales are still declining in the double digits at 22.27% below the sales activity seen in June 2006.
NAR’s Existing Home Sales Report showing additional confirmation that the nation’s housing markets are continuing to experience weakness with EVERY regions showing considerable declines to sales as well as continued increases to inventory and monthly supply.
The May 2007 results of the S&P/Case-Shiller Indices are continued to show weakness for the nation’s housing markets with 15 of the 20 metro areas tracked reporting significant declines.
Topping the list of decliners on a year-over-year basis was Detroit at -11.06%, San Diego at -6.96%, Tampa at -6.67%, Washington DC at -6.34%, Phoenix at -5.55, Boston at -4.29% and Las Vegas at -4.10%.
Furthermore, comparing the last major downturn in the late 80s and early 90s to the current data may indicate that the current housing downturn is in its infancy with year-over-year declines only just having materialized in the last eleven months.
June's Pending Home Sales Report for June 2007 showing a continuation of the historic decline to residential housing on a month-to-month and year-over-year basis, both nationally and in every region.
The Census Department’s Construction Spending Report for June again demonstrated the significant extent to which private residential construction spending is contracting.
With the weakening trend continuing, total residential construction spending fell -16.39% as compared to June 2006 while private single family construction spending declined by a grotesque -25.82%.
Key Report Details:
- The seasonally adjusted annul rate of private residential construction spending has now dropped 21.80% from the peak set back in February 2006.
- Overall private residential construction spending dropped -16.39% as compared to June 2006.
- Single Family residential construction spending dropped 25.82% as compared to June 2006.
