Bay Area
U.S. Home Builders Enter 2026 With Sentiment Slipping as Demand Falters
NAHB index falls to 37 in January as 65 percent of builders rely on incentives despite easing mortgage rates The U.S. housing market...
Small Business Optimism Climbs to 99.5 as Economic Uncertainty Falls to Seven-Month Low
Policy clarity and monetary easing drive nine-point jump in near-term outlook despite persistent labor challenges American small business owners closed out 2025 with...
Trump Administration Unveils Housing Market Interventions to Address Affordability Crisis
New policies target institutional investors and mortgage rates, though implementation details remain sparse The Trump administration launched two major housing policy initiatives this...
Labor Market Treads Water as Job Growth Stalls in Final Month of 2025
December payrolls rose just 50,000 while unemployment edged down to 4.4 percent, leaving Fed likely on hold for January meeting The U.S. labor...
U.S. Housing Construction Starts Slide 4.2% to a 1.25MM Pace as Builders Pull Back
Elevated inventories, affordability pressures and uneven demand keep residential construction subdued After several years in which housing construction helped buffer the economy against...
Consumer Prices Expected to Rise 0.35% in December After Data Collection Issues
Wells Fargo forecasts 2.7 percent year-over-year headline inflation, down from September peak despite monthly rebound The longest government shutdown in U.S. history created...
Manufacturing Sector Closes 2025 With 10th Consecutive Month of Contraction, ISM Index at 47.8
Employment gauge shows modest improvement despite persistent weakness in new orders and production activity The disconnect between America’s booming overall economy and its...
U.S. Existing Home Sales Edge Up 0.5 percent in November to 4.13MM Units
Third consecutive monthly gain reflects lower mortgage rates and improved supply conditions The housing market’s gradual recovery continues as buyers respond to more...
Small Business Optimism Rises to 99 in November as Sales Expectations Strengthen
NFIB survey shows stronger holiday sales outlook and higher hiring plans, even as price increases and uncertainty remain elevated Small business owners are...
U.S. Job Openings Rise to 7.67MM While Worker Confidence Slips
September JOLTS shows 1.01 openings-to-unemployed ratio as October quits fall to 1.8 percent The U.S. labor market is sending conflicting signals about its...
November Inflation Data Raises Questions Amid Government Shutdown Disruptions: CPI Falls to 2.7%
Data collection issues follow longest government shutdown, casting doubt on sharp slowdown to multi-year lows The latest consumer price data presents an unusual...
U.S. Rental Market Faces Extended Slowdown as Supply Glut and Demand Weakness Converge
John Burns Research forecasts no recovery until late 2026, with operators focusing on cost control and selective investments The rental housing sector is...
