UK Housing Market Data Response Land Registry Repeat Sales Index (June) House prices rose far more slowly in the second quarter than in the first. Thus the upswing in the Land Registry measure of house price inflation is likely to be reversed before long. 27th July 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update Are lower mortgage rates supporting housing demand? News of mortgage rates falling to fresh lows may have become an almost weekly occurrence, but there’s relatively little evidence that this is translating into stronger housing demand among mortgage... 26th July 2012 · 1 min read
Canada Economics Update Is the housing market enjoying a soft landing? Housing activity is cooling and if this trend continues, as we expect, the typical lag times between activity and prices suggest that house prices might begin to decline outright next year. Given the... 25th July 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Data Response BBA Mortgage Lending (June) June’s slump in mortgage approvals may well have been exaggerated by the Diamond Jubilee celebrations at the start of the month. Even so, with approvals at their lowest level since January 2009, it... 24th July 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update The other house price divide: new vs. existing house prices The recent outperformance by new-build house prices reflects two factors. First, the increasing use of sales incentives by housebuilders, and second, catch-up growth following a period of... 20th July 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Jun.) The steep drop in existing home sales in June is clearly disappointing, but we always expected the housing recovery to be choppy and today’s release is consistent with that. In any case, given that... 19th July 2012 · 1 min read
Middle East & North Africa Chart Pack Price pressures have eased across the Middle East Inflation pressures are easing in most countries in the Middle East and North Africa region. The drop in global commodity prices has led to a fall in food price inflation across the region. Meanwhile... 19th July 2012 · 1 min read
Japan Chart Pack Recovery on hold as economy continues to slow The Japanese economy continued to slow throughout the second quarter and businesses expect only an anaemic recovery in Q3. The economy remains reliant on government support, with reconstruction... 19th July 2012 · 1 min read
China Chart Pack Labour market health belies talk of hard landing China’s economy is growing at one of the slowest rates in years but the labour market is showing few signs of strain. Migrant wages were up 13% y/y last quarter. There are still more jobs being... 19th July 2012 · 1 min read
UK Economics Update Regional Monitor (Jul.) The latest regional figures show that the economic recovery in the Midlands has lost considerable pace. Meanwhile, although the official figures show that employment has continued to grow in most of... 18th July 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Data Response Housing Starts (Jun.) The improvement in housing starts in June was further evidence that the housing recovery is holding up even as the wider economic recovery has lost a considerable amount of momentum. 18th July 2012 · 1 min read
UK Commercial Property Update Rumoured RPI changes not a reason for concern Rumoured changes to the way in which the RPI is calculated may have a detrimental impact on the value of property with an index-linked lease. But even if any changes to the RPI are made, which is very... 18th July 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Focus How much lower will the homeownership rate get? Over the next few years, it’s plausible that tight credit, subdued confidence and many more foreclosures will drive the homeownership rate down to 64%, from 65.4% now. Over a longer horizon, the case... 18th July 2012 · 1 min read
UK Housing Market Update Are Northern house prices leading the way? Contrary to popular perception, the current divergence between house price inflation in different parts of the country is neither new, nor abnormally high. It is possible that, in time, the resilience... 17th July 2012 · 1 min read
US Housing Market Update Is negative equity a positive for the housing recovery? The reluctance of homeowners who are in negative equity to sell their home and realise a loss is one explanation for the sharp fall in the visible inventory over the past few years. Nevertheless... 16th July 2012 · 1 min read
US Economics Weekly Bernanke to take centre stage This week's congressional testimony from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke will be closely watched for hints that the FOMC is any closer to launching a third round of large-scale asset purchases. Even though... 13th July 2012 · 1 min read
