Sunday, August 30, 2020

Dollar Devaluation and Yuan Revaluation, FOMC Changed Long-Run Goals and Monetary Policy Strategy to Target “Inflation Moderately Above 2 Percent For Some Time” If Inflation Had Been Below 2 Percent “Persistently,” US GDP Contracted at SAAR of 31.7 Percent in IIQ2020 and Decreased 9.1 Percent Relative to a Year Earlier In the Global Recession, with Output in the US Reaching a High in Feb 2020 (https://www.nber.org/cycles.html), in the Lockdown of Economic Activity in the COVID-19 Event, Mediocre Cyclical United States Economic Growth with GDP Five Trillion Dollars Below Trend in the Lost Economic Cycle of the Global Recession with Economic Growth Underperforming Below Trend Worldwide, Cyclically Stagnating Real Private Fixed Investment, Swelling Undistributed Corporate Profits with Profit Contraction in the Global Recession, with Output in the US Reaching a High in Feb 2020 (https://www.nber.org/cycles.html), in the Lockdown of Economic Activity in the COVID-19 Event, Increasing US New Home Sales and Home Prices, World Inflation Waves with Increasing Price Levels In Most Countries and Regions Worldwide, World Cyclical Slow Growth, and Government Intervention in Globalization: Part IV

 

Carlos M. Pelaez

 

© Carlos M. Pelaez, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

 

IA Mediocre Cyclical United States Economic Growth

            IA1 Stagnating Real Private Fixed Investment

            IA2 Swelling Undistributed Corporate Profits

IID United States Terms of International Trade

IIA United States Housing Collapse

            IIA1 Sales of New Houses

            IIA2 United States House Prices

I World Inflation Waves

            IA Appendix: Transmission of Unconventional Monetary Policy

IB1 Theory

IB2 Policy

IB3 Evidence

IB4 Unwinding Strategy

IC United States Inflation

IC Long-term US Inflation

ID Current US Inflation

IE Theory and Reality of Economic History, Cyclical Slow Growth Not Secular Stagnation and Monetary Policy Based on Fear of Deflation

III World Financial Turbulence

IV Global Inflation

V World Economic Slowdown

VA United States

VB Japan

VC China

VD Euro Area

VE Germany

VF France

VG Italy

VH United Kingdom

VI Valuation of Risk Financial Assets

VII Economic Indicators

VIII Interest Rates

IX Conclusion

References

Appendixes

Appendix I The Great Inflation

IIIB Appendix on Safe Haven Currencies

IIIC Appendix on Fiscal Compact

IIID Appendix on European Central Bank Large Scale Lender of Last Resort

IIIG Appendix on Deficit Financing of Growth and the Debt Crisis

 

II I United States Housing Collapse. Data and other information continue to provide depressed conditions in the US housing market in a longer perspective, with recent improvement at the margin. Table IIB-1 shows sales of new houses in the US at seasonally adjusted annual equivalent rate (SAAR). The US Census Bureau revised all seasonally-adjusted new house sales from 2014 to 2019 with the report for Apr 2019 on May 23, 2019 (https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/pdf/newressales.pdf). The US Census Bureau revised all seasonally adjusted new house sales from 2015 to 2020 with the report of Apr 2020 on May 26, 2020 (https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/pdf/newressales.pdf). House sales fell in 50 of 115 months from Jan 2011 to Jul 2020 with monthly declines of 5 in 2011, 4 in 2012, 5 in 2013, 6 in 2014, 3 in 2015, 7 in 2016, 5 in 2017, 7 in 2018, 5 in 2019 and 3 in 2020. In Jan-Apr 2012, house sales increased at the annual equivalent rate of 11.8 percent and at 22.3 percent in May-Sep 2012. There was significant strength in Sep-Dec 2011 with annual equivalent rate of 48.4 percent. Sales of new houses fell at 7.0 percent in Oct 2012 with increase of 9.5 percent in Nov 2012. Sales of new houses rebounded 11.8 percent in Jan 2013 with annual equivalent rate of 55.7 percent from Oct 2012 to Jan 2013 because of the increase at 11.8 percent in Jan 2013. New house sales decreased at annual equivalent 3.0 percent in Feb-Mar 2013. New house sales weakened, decreasing at 3.1 percent in annual equivalent from Apr to Dec 2013 with significant volatility illustrated by decline of 20.2 percent in Jul 2013 and increase of 10.2 percent in Oct 2013. New house sales fell 2.9 percent in Dec 2013. New house sales increased 2.3 percent in Jan 2014 and fell 5.2 percent in Feb 2014, decreasing 3.6 percent in Mar 2014. New house sales decreased 0.5 percent in Apr 2014 and increased 11.9 percent in May 2014. New house sales fell 7.3 percent in Jun 2014 and decreased 3.8 percent in Jul 2014. New house sales increased at 8.0 percent in Jan-Aug 2014. New house sales jumped 13.4 percent in Aug 2014 and increased 3.1 percent in Sep 2014. New House sales increased 1.3 percent in Oct 2014 and fell 7.1 percent in Nov 2014. House sales fell at the annual equivalent rate of 11.4 percent in Sep-Nov 2014. New house sales increased 12.4 percent in Dec 2014 and increased 3.6 percent in Jan 2015. Sales of new houses increased 4.9 percent in Feb

2015 and fell 11.1 percent in Mar 2015. House sales increased 4.6 percent in Apr 2015. The annual equivalent rate in Dec 2014-Apr 2015 was 35.7 percent. New house sales changed 0.0 percent in May 2015 and fell 4.4 percent in Jun 2015, increasing 5.4 percent in Jul 2015. New house sales fell at annual equivalent 3.1 percent in May-Jul 2015. New house sales increased 2.4 percent in Aug 2015 and fell 12.0 percent in Sep 2015. New house sales decreased at annual equivalent 46.5 percent in Aug-Sep 2015. New house sales increased 5.7 percent in Oct 2015 and increased 4.6 percent in Nov 2015, increasing 8.3 percent in Dec 2015. New house sales increased at the annual equivalent rate of 105.6 percent in Oct-Dec 2015. New house sales decreased 6.8 percent in Jan 2016 at the annual equivalent rate of minus 57.0 percent. New house sales increased 1.2 percent in Feb 2016 and increased 2.1 percent in Mar 2016. New house sales jumped at 8.6 percent in Apr 2016. New house sales increased at the annual equivalent rate of 58.5 percent in Feb-Apr 2016. New house sales decreased 1.9 percent in May 2016 and decreased 0.4 percent in Jun 2016. New house sales jumped 14.5 percent in Jul 2016.  New house sales increased at the annual equivalent rate of 56.7 percent in May-Jul 2016. New house sales fell 8.6 percent in Aug 2016 and decreased 2.9 percent in Sep 2016, increasing 1.8 percent in Oct 2016. New house sales fell at the annual equivalent rate of minus 33.4 percent in Aug-Oct 2016. New house sales decreased at 1.0 percent in Nov 2016 and fell at 1.8 percent in Dec 2016. New house sales fell at 15.6 percent annual equivalent in Nov-Dec 2016. New house sales increased at 4.3 percent in Jan 2017 and increased at 2.1 percent in Feb 2017. New house sales increased at 45.8 percent in Jan-Feb 2017. New house sales increased at 5.7 percent in Mar 2017 and fell at 6.7 percent in Apr 2017. New house sales decreased at annual equivalent 8.0 percent in Mar-Apr 2017.  New house sales increased at 4.1 percent in May 2017 and increased at 1.1 percent in Jun 2017. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 35.9 percent in May-Jun 2017. New house sales decreased at 8.9 percent in Jul 2017 and decreased at 0.9 percent in Aug 2017, increasing at 13.9 percent in Sep 2017. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 11.8 percent in Jul-Sep 2017. New house sales decreased at 1.7 percent in Oct 2017. New house sales increased at 13.6 percent in Nov 2017. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 93.9 percent in Oct-Nov 2017. New house sales decreased at 7.7 percent in Dec 2017 and decreased at 5.3 percent in Jan 2018.  New house sales decreased at annual equivalent 55.4 percent in Dec 2017-Jan 2018. New house sales increased at 2.4 percent in Feb 2018, increasing at 3.9 percent in Mar 2018. New house sales increased at 45.0 percent in Feb-Mar 2018. New house sales decreased at 3.8 percent in Apr 2018 and increased at 3.1 percent in May 2018.  New House sales decreased at annual equivalent 4.8 percent in Apr-May 2018. New house sales decreased at 6.7 percent in Jun 2018 and increased at 0.7 percent in Jul 2018. New House sales decreased at annual equivalent 31.2 percent in Jun-Jul 2018. New house sales decreased at 3.1 percent in Aug 2018 and decreased at 0.3 percent in Sep 2018. New house sales decreased at annual equivalent 18.7 percent in Aug-Sep 2018. New house sales fell at 7.4 percent in Oct 2018 and increased at 11.2 percent in Nov 2018. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 19.2 percent in Oct-Nov 2018.  New house sales decreased at 8.1 percent in Dec 2018 and increased at 12.9 percent in Jan 2019. New House sales increased at annual equivalent 24.8 percent in Dec 2018-Jan 2019. New house sales increased at 4.4 percent in Feb 2019 and increased at 5.3 percent in Mar 2019. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 76.5 percent in Feb-Mar 2019. New house sales fell at 5.1 percent in Apr 2019 and fell at 9.6 percent in May 2019. New house sales decreased at annual equivalent 60.1 percent in Apr-May 2019. New house sales increased at 21.0 percent in Jun 2019 and decreased at 9.0 percent in Jul 2019. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 78.2 percent in Jun-Jul 2019. New house sales increased at 6.8 percent in Aug 2019 and increased at 2.8 percent in Sep 2019. New house sales decreased at 2.8 percent in Oct 2019. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 29.7 percent in Aug-Oct 2019. New house sales decreased at 1.4 percent in Nov 2019. New house sales decreased at annual equivalent 15.6 percent in Nov 2019. New house sales increased at 5.0 percent in Dec 2019. New house sales increased at 5.9 percent in Jan 2020. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 89.0 percent in Dec 2019-Jan 2020. New house sales decreased at 7.5 percent in Feb 2020. New house sales decreased at 14.5 percent in Mar 2020 in the global recession, with output in the US reaching a high in Feb 2020 (https://www.nber.org/cycles.html), in the lockdown of economic activity in the COVID-19 event. New house sales decreased at 6.9 percent in Apr 2020. New house sales decreased at annual equivalent 70.6 percent in Feb-Apr 2020. New house sales increased at 20.5 percent in May 2020. New house sales increased at 15.1 percent in Jun 2020. New house sales increased at 13.9 percent in Jul 2020. New house sales increased at annual equivalent 522.8 percent in May-Jul 2020. There are wide monthly oscillations. Robbie Whelan and Conor Dougherty, writing on “Builders fuel home sale rise,” on Feb 26, 2013, published in the Wall Street Journal (http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324338604578327982067761860.html), analyze how builders have provided financial assistance to home buyers, including those short of cash and with weaker credit background, explaining the rise in new home sales and the highest gap between prices of new and existing houses. The 30-year conventional mortgage rate increased from 3.40 on Apr 25, 2013 to 4.58 percent on Aug 22, 2013 (http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/h15/data.htm), which could also be a factor in recent weakness with improvement after the rate fell to 4.26 in Nov 2013. The conventional mortgage rate rose to 4.48 percent on Dec 26, 2013 and fell to 4.32 percent on Jan 30, 2014. The conventional mortgage rate increased to 4.37 percent on Feb 26, 2014 and 4.40 percent on Mar 27, 2014. The conventional mortgage rate fell to 4.14 percent on Apr 22, 2014, stabilizing at 4.14 on Jun 26, 2014. The conventional mortgage rate stood at 3.93 percent on Aug 20, 2015 and at 3.91 percent on Sep 17, 2015. The conventional mortgage rate was at 3.79 percent on Oct 22, 2015. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.97 percent on Nov 20, 2015. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.97 percent on Dec 18, 2015, and 3.92 percent on Jan 14, 2016. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.65 percent on Feb 19, 2016. The commercial mortgage rate was 3.73 percent on Mar 17, 2016 and 3.59 percent on Apr 21, 2016. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.58 on May 19, 2016. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.54 percent on Jun 19, 2016 and 3.45 percent on Jul 21, 2016. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.43 percent on Aug 18, 2016 and 3.48 percent on Sep 22, 2016. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.94 on Nov 17, 2016 and 4.30 percent on Dec 22.  The conventional mortgage rate was 4.19 percent on Jan 26, 2017 and 4.15 percent on Feb 17, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.1 percent on Mar 16, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.97 percent on Apr 20, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.05 percent on May 18, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.90 percent on Jun 22, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.96 percent on Jul 20, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.90 percent on Aug 18, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.83 percent on Sep 21, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.88 percent on Oct 20, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.92 percent on Nov 22, 2017 and 3.94 on Dec 21, 2017. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.04 percent on Jan 18, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.40 percent on Feb 22, 2018. The conventional rate was 4.43 percent on Mar 1, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.45 percent on Mar 22, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.47 on Apr 19, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.87 percent in May 31, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.57 percent on Jun 21, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.52 percent on Jul 19, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.53 percent on Aug 16, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.65 percent on Sep 20, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.85 percent on Oct 18, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.81 percent on Nov 21, 2018. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.35 percent in Feb 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.41 percent on Mar 7, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.06 percent on Mar 28, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was 4.12 percent on Apr 5, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was at 4.06 percent on May 23, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.84 percent on Jun 20, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was at 3.81 percent on Jul 18, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.60 on Aug 22, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.66 percent on Nov 21, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.74 percent on

Dec 26, 2019. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.60 on Jan 24, 2020. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.49 percent on Feb 21, 2020. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.65 percent on Mar 19, 2020. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.31 percent on Apr 16, 2020. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.24 percent on May 20, 2020. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.13 percent on Jun 19, 2020. The conventional mortgage rate was 3.01 percent on Jul 24, 2020. The conventional mortgage rate was 2.99 percent on Aug 21, 2020. The conventional mortgage rate measured in a survey by Freddie Mac (http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/ http://www.freddiemac.com/pmms/abtpmms.htm) is the “interest rate a lender would charge to lend mortgage money to a qualified borrower.

Table IIB-1, US, Sales of New Houses at Seasonally Adjusted (SA) Annual Equivalent Rate, Thousands and % 

SA Annual Rate
Thousands

∆%

Jul 2020

901

13.9

Jun

791

15.1

May

687

20.5

AE ∆% May-Jul

 

522.8

Apr

570

-6.9

Mar

612

-14.5

Feb

716

-7.5

AE ∆% Feb-Apr

 

-70.6

Jan

774

5.9

Dec 2019

731

5.0

AE ∆% Dec-Jan

 

89.0

Nov

696

-1.4

AE ∆% Nov

 

-15.6

Oct

706

-2.8

Sep

726

2.8

Aug

706

6.8

AE ∆% Aug-Oct

 

29.7

Jul

661

-9.0

Jun

726

21.0

AE ∆% Jun-Jul

 

78.2

May

600

-9.6

Apr

664

-5.1

AE ∆% Apr-May

 

-60.1

Mar

700

5.3

Feb

665

4.4

AE ∆% Feb-Mar

 

76.5

Jan

637

12.9

Dec 2018

564

-8.1

AE ∆% Dec-Jan

 

24.8

Nov

614

11.2

Oct

552

-7.4

AE ∆% Oct-Nov

 

19.2

Sep

596

-0.3

Aug

598

-3.1

AE ∆% Aug-Sep

 

-18.7

Jul

617

0.7

 Jun

613

-6.7

AE ∆% Jun-Jul

 

-31.2

May

657

3.1

Apr

637

-3.8

AE ∆% Apr-May

 

-4.8

Mar

662

3.9

Feb

637

2.4

AE ∆% Feb-Mar

 

45.0

Jan

622

-5.3

Dec 2017

657

-7.7

AE ∆% Dec-Jan

 

-55.4

Nov

712

13.6

Oct

627

-1.7

AE ∆% Oct-Nov

 

93.9

Sep

638

13.9

Aug

560

-0.9

Jul

565

-8.9

AE ∆% Jul-Sep

 

11.8

Jun

620

1.1

May

613

4.1

AE ∆% May -Jun

 

35.9

Apr

589

-6.7

Mar

631

5.7

AE ∆% Mar-Apr

 

-8.0

Feb

597

2.1

Jan

585

4.3

AE ∆% Jan-Feb

 

45.8

Dec 2016

561

-1.8

Nov

571

-1.0

AE ∆% Nov-Dec

 

-15.6

Oct

577

1.8

Sep

567

-2.9

Aug

584

-8.6

AE ∆% Aug-Oct

 

-33.4

Jul

639

14.5

Jun

558

-0.4

May

560

-1.9

AE ∆% May-Jul

 

56.7

Apr

571

8.6

Mar

526

2.1

Feb

515

1.2

AE ∆% Feb-Apr

58.5

Jan

509

-6.8

AE ∆% Jan

-57.0

Dec 2015

546

8.3

Nov

504

4.6

Oct

482

5.7

AE ∆% Oct-Dec

105.6

Sep

456

-12.0

Aug

518

2.4

AE ∆% Aug-Sep

-46.5

Jul

506

5.4

Jun

480

-4.4

May

502

0.0

AE ∆% May-Jul

-3.1

Apr

502

4.6

Mar

480

-11.1

Feb

540

4.9

Jan

515

3.6

Dec 2014

497

12.4

AE ∆% Dec-Apr

35.7

Nov

442

-7.1

Oct

476

1.3

Sep

470

3.1

AE ∆% Sep-Nov

-11.4

Aug

456

13.4

Jul

402

-3.8

Jun

418

-7.3

May

451

11.9

Apr

403

-0.5

Mar

405

-3.6

Feb

420

-5.2

Jan

443

2.3

AE ∆% Jan-Aug

8.0

Dec 2013

433

-2.9

Nov

446

0.5

Oct

444

10.2

Sep

403

5.8

Aug

381

1.6

Jul

375

-20.2

Jun

470

9.8

May

428

-2.9

Apr

441

-0.7

AE ∆% Apr-Dec

-3.1

Mar

444

-0.7

Feb

447

0.2

AE ∆% Feb-Mar

-3.0

Jan

446

11.8

Dec 2012

399

1.8

Nov

392

9.5

Oct

358

-7.0

AE ∆% Oct-Jan

55.7

Sep

385

2.7

Aug

375

1.6

Jul

369

2.5

Jun

360

-2.7

May

370

4.5

AE ∆% May-Sep

22.3

Apr

354

0.0

Mar

354

-3.3

Feb

366

9.3

Jan

335

-1.8

AE ∆% Jan-Apr

11.8

Dec 2011

341

4.0

Nov

328

3.8

Oct

316

3.9

Sep

304

1.7

AE ∆% Sep-Dec

48.4

Aug

299

1.0

Jul

296

-1.7

Jun

301

-1.3

May

305

-1.6

AE ∆% May-Aug

-10.3

Apr

310

3.3

Mar

300

11.1

Feb

270

-12.1

Jan

307

-5.8

AE ∆% Jan-Apr

-14.2

Dec 2010

326

13.6

AE: Annual Equivalent

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

There is additional information of the report of new house sales in Table IIB-2. The stock of unsold houses fell from rates of 6 to 8 percent of sales in 2011 to 4 to 5 percent in 2013 and 4.0 percent in Jul 2020. Robbie Whelan and Conor Dougherty, writing on “Builders fuel home sale rise,” on Feb 26, 2013, published in the Wall Street Journal (http://professional.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324338604578327982067761860.html), find that inventories of houses have declined as investors acquire distressed houses of higher quality. Median and average house prices oscillate. In Jul 2020, median prices of new houses sold not seasonally adjusted (NSA) decreased 1.9 percent after increasing 7.7 percent in

Jun 2020. Average prices increased 2.5 percent in Jul 2020 and increased 4.5 percent in Jun 2020. Between Dec 2010 and Jul 2020, median prices increased 37.1 percent, with increases of 6.0 percent in Feb 2016, 4.9 percent in Nov 2015, 2.2 percent in Sep 2015, 13.6 percent in Oct 2014, 4.0 percent in Aug 2014, 4.0 percent in May 2014 and 5.2 percent in Mar 2014.  Average prices increased 34.1 percent between Dec 2010 and Jul 2020, with increases of 5.1 percent in Mar 2016, 4.0 percent in Sep 2015, 4.4 percent in Jul 2015 and 18.3 percent in Oct 2014. Between Dec 2010 and Dec 2012, median prices increased 7.1 percent and average prices increased 2.6 percent. Price increases concentrated in 2012 with increase of median prices of 18.2 percent from Dec 2011 to Dec 2012 and of average prices of 13.8 percent. Median prices increased 16.7 percent from Dec 2012 to Dec 2014, with increase of 13.6 percent in Oct 2014, while average prices increased 24.7 percent, with increase of 18.3 percent in Oct 2014. Median prices decreased 1.5 percent from Dec 2014 to Dec 2015 while average prices fell 5.5 percent. Median prices increased 10.1 percent from Dec 2015 to Dec 2016 while average prices increased 8.5 percent. Median prices increased 5.0 percent from Dec 2016 to Dec 2017 while average prices increased 5.3 percent. Median prices decreased 4.0 percent from Dec 2017 to Dec 2018 while average prices decreased 5.2 percent. Median prices decreased 0.1 percent from Dec 2018 to Dec 2019 while average prices decreased 1.1 percent. Median prices increased 6.0 percent from Jul 2019 to Jul 2020 while average prices increased 8.1 percent. Robbie Whelan, writing on “New homes hit record as builders cap supply,” on May 24, 2013, published in the Wall Street Journal (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323475304578500973445311276.html?mod=WSJ_economy_LeftTopHighlights), finds that homebuilders are continuing to restrict the number of new homes for sale. Restriction of available new homes for sale increases prices paid by buyers.

Table IIB-2, US, New House Stocks and Median and Average New Homes Sales Price

 

Unsold*
Stocks in Equiv.
Months
of Sales
SA %

Median
New House Sales Price USD
NSA

Month
∆%

Average New House Sales Price USD
NSA

Month
∆%

Jul 2020

4.0

330,600

-1.9

391,300

2.5

Jun

4.6

337,000

7.7

381,900

4.5

May

5.4

312,900

0.9

365,400

1.4

Apr

6.8

310,100

-5.5

360,300

-4.0

Mar

6.5

328,200

-1.1

375,400

-2.8

Feb

5.5

331,800

0.9

386,200

0.6

Jan

5.0

328,900

-0.2

384,000

1.7

Dec 2019

5.3

329,500

0.5

377,700

-1.7

Nov

5.6

328,000

1.7

384,400

1.1

Oct

5.5

322,400

2.1

380,300

2.2

Sep

5.3

315,700

-3.5

372,100

-5.2

Aug

5.5

327,000

6.1

392,700

5.1

Jul

6.0

308,300

-1.1

373,500

3.2

Jun

5.5

311,800

-0.3

361,900

-4.5

May

6.7

312,700

-7.8

379,100

-1.6

Apr

6.1

339,000

9.1

385,400

3.4

Mar

5.8

310,600

-3.2

372,700

-2.8

Feb

6.1

320,800

5.0

383,600

6.2

Jan

6.5

305,400

-7.4

361,100

-5.4

Dec 2018

7.4

329,700

6.9

381,800

4.0

Nov

6.5

308,500

-6.0

367,100

-7.0

Oct

7.2

328,300

0.0

394,900

2.2

Sep

6.5

328,300

2.1

386,400

1.4

Aug

6.4

321,400

-1.9

380,900

-2.9

Jul

6.1

327,500

5.5

392,300

6.0

Jun

6.1

310,500

-2.0

370,100

-0.7

May

5.5

316,700

0.7

372,600

-3.2

Apr

5.7

314,400

-6.3

385,100

4.3

Mar

5.4

335,400

2.5

369,200

-1.2

Feb

5.6

327,200

-0.7

373,600

-1.1

Jan

5.6

329,600

-4.0

377,800

-6.2

Dec 2017

5.4

343,300

0.0

402,900

3.7

Nov

4.9

343,400

7.5

388,500

-1.4

Oct

5.5

319,500

-3.6

394,000

3.9

Sep

5.3

331,500

5.5

379,300

2.7

Aug

6.0

314,200

-2.7

369,200

-0.9

Jul

5.9

322,900

2.4

372,400

0.5

Jun

5.3

315,200

-2.6

370,600

-2.1

May

5.3

323,600

4.0

378,400

3.4

Apr

5.5

311,100

-3.3

365,800

-4.8

Mar

5.0

321,700

8.0

384,400

3.8

Feb

5.2

298,000

-5.5

370,500

3.6

Jan

5.3

315,200

-3.6

357,700

-6.5

Dec 2016

5.4

327,000

3.8

382,500

5.3

Nov

5.2

315,000

4.0

363,400

3.2

Oct

5.1

302,800

-3.8

352,200

-3.8

Sep

5.2

314,800

5.3

366,100

3.1

Aug

4.9

298,900

0.5

355,100

0.6

Jul

4.5

297,400

-4.4

353,000

-1.3

Jun

5.2

311,200

5.4

357,800

2.3

May

5.2

295,200

-7.3

349,700

-5.3

Apr

5.1

318,300

5.0

369,300

2.9

Mar

5.5

303,200

-0.9

359,000

5.1

Feb

5.6

305,800

6.0

341,700

-5.4

Jan

5.6

288,400

-2.9

361,200

2.5

Dec 2015

5.1

297,100

-5.0

352,500

-5.5

Nov

5.5

312,600

4.9

373,200

1.2

Oct

5.6

298,000

-0.5

368,900

3.3

Sep

5.9

299,500

2.2

357,200

4.0

Aug

5.0

293,000

0.2

343,300

0.6

Jul

5.2

292,300

2.5

341,200

4.4

Jun

5.4

285,100

-0.8

326,900

-2.8

May

5.0

287,500

-2.4

336,200

-1.2

Apr

4.9

294,500

2.8

340,400

-2.5

Mar

5.1

286,600

0.0

349,300

0.9

Feb

4.5

286,600

-1.8

346,300

-0.6

Jan

4.8

292,000

-3.2

348,300

-6.7

Dec 2014

5.1

301,500

1.1

373,200

7.0

Nov

5.7

298,300

0.4

348,900

-7.6

Oct

5.3

297,000

13.6

377,500

18.3

Sep

5.4

261,500

-10.4

319,100

-10.4

Aug

5.4

291,700

4.0

356,200

3.2

Jul

6.2

280,400

-2.3

345,200

2.1

Jun

5.7

287,000

0.5

338,100

4.5

May

5.2

285,600

4.0

323,500

-0.5

Apr

5.7

274,500

-2.8

325,100

-1.9

Mar

5.6

282,300

5.2

331,500

1.7

Feb

5.3

268,400

-0.5

325,900

-3.4

Jan

5.1

269,800

-2.1

337,300

5.0

Dec 2013

5.2

275,500

-0.6

321,200

-4.3

Nov

5.0

277,100

4.8

335,600

0.0

Oct

4.9

264,300

-2.0

335,700

4.4

Sep

5.4

269,800

5.7

321,400

3.4

Aug

5.5

255,300

-2.6

310,800

-5.8

Jul

5.5

262,200

0.9

329,900

7.8

Jun

4.1

259,800

-1.5

306,100

-2.5

May

4.6

263,700

-5.6

314,000

-6.8

Apr

4.4

279,300

8.5

337,000

12.3

Mar

4.2

257,500

-2.9

300,200

-3.9

Feb

4.1

265,100

5.4

312,500

1.8

Jan

4.0

251,500

-2.6

306,900

2.6

Dec 2012

4.5

258,300

5.4

299,200

2.9

Nov

4.6

245,000

-0.9

290,700

1.9

Oct

4.9

247,200

-2.9

285,400

-4.1

Sep

4.5

254,600

0.6

297,700

-2.6

Aug

4.6

253,200

6.7

305,500

8.2

Jul

4.6

237,400

2.1

282,300

3.9

Jun

4.8

232,600

-2.8

271,800

-3.2

May

4.7

239,200

1.2

280,900

-2.4

Apr

4.9

236,400

-1.4

287,900

1.5

Mar

4.9

239,800

0.0

283,600

3.5

Feb

4.8

239,900

8.2

274,000

3.1

Jan

5.3

221,700

1.4

265,700

1.1

Dec 2011

5.3

218,600

2.0

262,900

5.2

Nov

5.7

214,300

-4.7

250,000

-3.2

Oct

6.0

224,800

3.6

258,300

1.1

Sep

6.3

217,000

-1.2

255,400

-1.5

Aug

6.5

219,600

-4.5

259,300

-4.1

Jul

6.7

229,900

-4.3

270,300

-1.0

Jun

6.6

240,200

8.2

273,100

4.0

May

6.6

222,000

-1.2

262,700

-2.3

Apr

6.7

224,700

1.9

268,900

3.1

Mar

7.2

220,500

0.2

260,800

-0.8

Feb

8.1

220,100

-8.3

262,800

-4.7

Jan

7.3

240,100

-0.5

275,700

-5.5

Dec 2010

7.0

241,200

9.8

291,700

3.5

*Percent of new houses for sale relative to houses sold

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

The depressed level of residential construction and new house sales in the US is evident in Table IIB-3 providing new house sales not seasonally adjusted in Jan-Jul of various years. New house sales increased 8.4 percent from Jan-Jul 2019 to Jan-Jul 2020. New house sales increased 12.8 percent from Jan-Jul 2018 to Jan-Jul 2020. New house sales increased 20.3 percent from Jan-Jul 2017 to Jan-Jul 2020. Sales of new houses are higher in Jan-Jul 2020 relative to Jan-Jul 2016 with increase of 30.1 percent. Sales of new houses are higher in Jan-Jul 2020 relative to Jan-Jul 2015 with increase of 44.2 percent. Sales of new houses in Jan-Jul 2020 are substantially lower than in many years between 1996 and 2020 except for the years from 2008 to 2019. There are several other increases of 71.8 percent relative to 2014, 67.9 percent relative to Jan-Jul 2013, 101.8 percent relative to Jan-Jul 2012, 144.6 percent relative to Jan-Jul 2011, 116.3 percent relative to Jan-Jul 2010, and 100.0 percent relative to Jan-Jul 2009. New house sales in Jan-Jul 2020 are 37.6 percent higher than in Jan-Jul 2008. Sales of new houses in Jan-Jul 2020 are lower by 13.0 percent relative to Jan-Jul 2007, 32.6 percent relative to 2006, 43.5 percent relative to 2005 and 39.1 percent relative to 2004. The housing boom peaked in 2005 and 2006 when increases in fed funds rates to 5.25 percent in Jun 2006 from 1.0 percent in Jun 2004 affected subprime mortgages that were programmed for refinancing in two or three years on the expectation that price increases forever would raise home equity. Higher home equity would permit refinancing under feasible mortgages incorporating full payment of principal and interest (Gorton 2009EFM; see other references in http://cmpassocregulationblog.blogspot.com/2011/07/causes-of-2007-creditdollar-crisis.html). Sales of new houses in Jan-Jun 2020 relative to the same period in 2003 fell 31.2 percent and 22.4 percent relative to the same period in 2002. Similar percentage declines are also for 2020 relative to years from 2000 to 2004. Sales of new houses in Jan-Jul 2020 decreased 17.0 per cent relative to the same period in 1998. The population of the US was 179.3 million in 1960 and 281.4 million in 2000 (Hobbs and Stoops 2002, 16). Detailed historical census reports are available from the US Census Bureau at (http://www.census.gov/population/www/censusdata/hiscendata.html). The estimate of the US population is 418.8 million in 2015. The US population increased by 133.6 percent from 1960 to 2015.  The final row of Table IIB-3 reveals catastrophic data: sales of new houses in Jan-Jul 2020 of 450 thousand units are lower by 11.1 percent relative to 506 thousand units of houses sold in Jan-Jul 1977, which is fifteenth year when data become available in 1963. The civilian noninstitutional population increased from 122.416 million in 1963 to 259.175 million in 2019, or 111.7 percent (https://www.bls.gov/data/). The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) defines the civilian noninstitutional population (http://www.bls.gov/lau/rdscnp16.htm#cnp): “The civilian noninstitutional population consists of persons 16 years of age and older residing in the 50 States and the District of Columbia who are not inmates of institutions (for example, penal and mental facilities and homes for the aged) and who are not on active duty in the Armed Forces.Note: there are two equal total new houses sold in 2015 of 84 (39 in Jan and 45 in Feb) and 84 in 2016 (39 in Jan and 45 in Feb). There are two other equal total new houses sold of 68 in 2013 (32 in Jan and 36 in Feb) and 68 in 2014 (33 in Jan and 35 in 2014).

Table IIB-3, US, Sales of New Houses Not Seasonally Adjusted, Thousands and %

               Jan-Jul 2020              

450

Jan-Jul 2019

415

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2019

8.4

Jan-Jul 2018

399

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2018

12.8

Jan-Jul 2017

374

Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2017

20.3

Jan-Jul 2016

346

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2016

30.1

Jan-Jul 2015

312

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2015

44.2

Jan-Jul 2014

262

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2014

71.8

Jan-Jul 2013

268

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2013

67.9

Jan-Jul 2012

223

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2012

101.8

Jan-Jul 2011

184

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/ 
Jan-Jul 2011

144.6

Jan-Jul 2010

208

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/ 
Jan-Jul 2010

116.3

Jan-Jul 2009

225

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/ 
Jan-Jul 2009

100.0

Jan-Jul 2008

327

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/
Jan-Jul 2008

37.6

Jan-Jul 2007

517

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2007

-13.0

Jan-Jul 2006

668

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2006

-32.6

Jan-Jul 2005

796

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2005

-43.5

Jan-Jul 2004

739

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/
Jan-Jul 2004

-39.1

Jan-Jul 2003

654

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/
Jan-Jul 2003

-31.2

Jan-Jul 2002

580

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/
Jan-Jul 2002

-22.4

Jan-Jul 2001

570

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2001

-21.1

Jan-Jul 2000

535

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 2000

-15.9

Jan-Jul 1998

542

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 1998

-17.0

Jan-Jul 1977

506

∆% Jan-Jul 2020/Jan-Jul 1977

-11.1

*Computed using unrounded data

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

 

Chart IIB-1 of the US Bureau of the Census shows the sharp decline of sales of new houses in the US. Sales rose temporarily until about mid 2010 but then declined to a lower plateau followed by increase, stability and new oscillating increase. There is decrease in the final segment followed by marginal increase. There is renewed decline and stabilization with recovery in May-Jul 2020.

Chart IIB-1, US, New One-Family Houses Sold in the US, SAAR (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate)

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/img/c25_curr.gif

Between 1991 and 2001, sales of new houses rose 78.4 percent at the average yearly rate of 6.0 percent, as shown in Table IB-5. Between 1995 and 2005 sales of new houses increased 92.4 percent at the yearly rate of 6.8 percent. There are similar rates in all years from 2000 to 2005. The boom in housing construction and sales began in the 1980s and 1990s. The collapse of real estate culminated several decades of housing subsidies and policies to lower mortgage rates and borrowing terms (Pelaez and Pelaez, Financial Regulation after the Global Recession (2009b), 42-8). Sales of new houses sold in 2019 fell 9.8 percent relative to the same period in 1996 and fell 46.8 percent relative to 2005.

Table IIB-5, US, Percentage Change and Average Yearly Rate of Growth of Sales of New One-Family Houses

 

∆%

Average Yearly % Rate

1963-2019

22.0

0.4

1991-2001

78.4

6.0

1995-2005

92.4

6.8

2000-2005

46.3

7.9

1996-2019

-9.8

NA

2000-2019

-22.1

NA

2005-2019

-46.8

NA

NA: Not Applicable

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

Chart IIB-2 of the US Bureau of the Census provides the entire monthly sample of new houses sold in the US between Jan 1963 and Jul 2020 without seasonal adjustment. The series is almost stationary until the 1990s. There is sharp upward trend from the early 1990s to 2005-2006 after which new single-family houses sold collapse to levels below those in the beginning of the series with recent increase.

 

Chart IIB-2, US, New Single-family Houses Sold, NSA, 1963-2020

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.htm

Chart IIB-2A shows NSA sales of new single-family homes in the United States from 2019 to 2020. There is sharp decrease in Mar-Apr 2020 in the global recession, with output in the US reaching a high in Feb 2020 (https://www.nber.org/cycles.html), in the lockdown of economic activity in the COVID-19 event followed by vigorous recovery in May-Jul 2020.

Chart IIB-2A, US, New Single-family Houses Sold, NSA, 2019-2020

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

Chart IIB-3 of the US Census Bureau provides the entire series of new single-family sales median prices from Jan 1963 to Jul 2020. There is long-term sharp upward trend with few declines until the current collapse. Median prices increased sharply during the Great Inflation of the 1960s and 1970s and paused during the savings and loans crisis of the late 1980s and the recession of 1991. Housing subsidies throughout the 1990s caused sharp upward trend of median new house prices that accelerated after the fed funds rate of 1 percent from 2003 to 2004. There was sharp reduction of prices after 2006 with recovery recently above earlier prices.

Chart IIB-3, US, Median Sales Price of New Single-family Houses Sold, US Dollars, NSA, 1963-2020

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

Chart IIB-3A of the US Census Bureau provides the entire series of new single-family sales median prices from Jan 2019 to Jul 2020. There is sharp decline of prices in Mar-Apr 2020 in the global recession, with output in the US reaching a high in Feb 2020 (https://www.nber.org/cycles.html), in the lockdown of economic activity in the COVID-19 event followed by vigorous recovery in May-Jun 2020 with decline in Jul 2020.

 

Chart IIB-3A, US, Median Sales Price of New Single-family Houses Sold, US Dollars, NSA, 2019-2020

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

Chart IIB-4 of the US Census Bureau provides average prices of new houses sold from the mid-1970s to Jul 2020. There is similar behavior as with median prices of new houses sold in Chart IIB-3. The only stress occurred in price pauses during the savings and loans crisis of the late 1980s and the collapse after 2006 with recent recovery, interrupted in the global recession, with output in the US reaching a high in Feb 2020 (https://www.nber.org/cycles.html), in the lockdown of economic activity in the COVID-19 event.

Chart IIB-4, US, Average Sales Price of New Single-family Houses Sold, US Dollars, NSA, 1975-2020

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

Chart IIB-4 of the US Census Bureau provides average prices of new houses sold from Jan 2019 to Jun 2020. Prices declined  in the global recession, with output in the US reaching a high in Feb 2020 (https://www.nber.org/cycles.html), in the lockdown of economic activity in the COVID-19 event

Chart IIB-4A, US, Average Sales Price of New Single-family Houses Sold, US Dollars, NSA, 2019-2020

Source: US Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/construction/nrs/index.html

 

© Carlos M. Pelaez, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020.

No comments:

Post a Comment