RBNZ Watch RBNZ to accelerate tightening cycle with 50bp hike Inflation is set to exceed the RBNZ’s forecasts yet again this year. With the Bank becoming increasingly worried that soaring inflation will dislodge inflation expectations, we think it will hike... 7th April 2022 · 7 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Applications (Mar.) Mortgage rates continue their upward climb in March, reaching a 40-month high of 4.9% by the end of the month. As yet, that has done little to cut home purchase demand. Indeed, applications saw a... 6th April 2022 · 2 mins read
UK Commercial Property Data Response S&P Global/CIPS Construction PMI (Mar.) The continued strength of the construction PMI in March suggests that activity in the sector increased despite ongoing headwinds from supply constraints and cost inflation. The rise in new orders... 6th April 2022 · 2 mins read
UK Housing Market Update Valuations are most stretched in southern regions Despite strong house price growth across the country over the past two years, including in regions that had lagged behind, valuations are most stretched in the usual places. As a result, house prices... 4th April 2022 · 3 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Data Response Australia CoreLogic House Prices (Mar.) We continue to expect house prices to begin falling across the eight capital cities in 2023. But the price declines in Sydney and Melbourne in March suggest that the downturn could be starting sooner... 1st April 2022 · 2 mins read
UK Housing Market Data Response Nationwide House Prices (Mar.) The acceleration in house price growth to an 18-year high of 14.3% will add to concerns that the pandemic housing market boom is getting out of hand. With mortgage rates rising, house price inflation... 31st March 2022 · 2 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Case-Shiller/FHFA House Prices (Jan.) The rebound in house price inflation seen at the end of last year continued into 2022, with annual growth on the Case-Shiller measure moving back above 19%. But housing market activity has slowed... 29th March 2022 · 2 mins read
UK Housing Market Data Response Mortgage Lending (Feb.) Higher than usual home moving activity ensured that mortgage approvals remained substantially above pre-virus levels in February. But the decline compared to January could be an early sign that rises... 29th March 2022 · 2 mins read
Global Economics Focus Property the weak link as interest rates rise We think that property markets are the weak link when it comes to the impact of tightening monetary policy. A modest rise in interest rates might only cause price falls in a few obvious candidates... 25th March 2022 · 22 mins read
Australia & New Zealand Economics Weekly Inflationary pressures rising Australia’s flash PMI for March provides further evidence that the pace of price rises is increasing and we think that strong inflation will convince the RBA to hike interest rates in June. Meanwhile... 25th March 2022 · 4 mins read
UK Housing Market Chart Pack Peak demand Most leading indicators of housing market activity and house prices remain strikingly buoyant, but the first signs that demand will soften are now appearing. There is no question that house prices... 24th March 2022 · 9 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response New Home Sales (Feb.) New home sales fell for the second month in a row in February, as builders limited them to catch-up with the backlog of homes under construction. Higher mortgage rates will act to cool overall housing... 23rd March 2022 · 2 mins read
US Housing Market Update Will mortgage spreads keep rising? The jump in the spread between mortgage rates and the 10-year Treasury yield primarily reflects a rise in the credit risk premium as investors react to a slowing economy, surging inflation, and the... 23rd March 2022 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Existing Home Sales (Feb.) Existing home sales slipped in February, more than reversing January’s surprise increase. And the Fed’s first move on interest rates this week reinforces our expectation that existing sales will... 18th March 2022 · 2 mins read
Canada Economics Weekly Another record rise in house prices The second consecutive record monthly gain in house prices in February, as well as the further rise in consumer price inflation to almost 6%, means the Bank of Canada will be eager to continue hiking... 18th March 2022 · 3 mins read
US Housing Market Data Response Housing Starts (Feb.) Housing starts rose by 5.7% m/m in February following two months of declines. While a tight inventory of existing homes is supporting homebuilder confidence, shortages of labour and materials will... 17th March 2022 · 2 mins read
