The Quikrete Industry Dashboard

New housing data, including residential starts and permits along with existing-home sales, are at the forefront of the latest key industry metrics on the Quikrete Industry Dashboard.

On Dec. 19, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development reported that housing starts hit their highest mark since May. The latest Monthly New Residential Construction Report showed housing starts in November increased 14.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.560 million compared to the revised October estimate of 1.359 million. 

Single‐family starts in November surged by 18% to a rate of  1.143 million compared to the revised October figure of 969,000. 

In contrast, housing units authorized by building permits in November declined 2.5% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.460 million from the revised October rate of 1.498 million. 

Single-family permits increased by 0.7% in November to a rate of 976,000 compared to the October figure of 969,000.  

The report was preceded by the the December National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index, which saw builder confidence rise by 3 points.

Existing-home sales ended five consecutive months of declines, the National Association of Realtors reported on Dec. 20. Total existing-home sales for November increased 0.8% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.82 compared to the prior month. 

Single-family existing-home sales increased to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.41 million in November, up 0.9% from 3.38 million in October.

At the pumps, the national average price for a regular gallon of gas hit $3.09 on Dec. 20 compared to $3.34 in the prior month. But AAA has warned that declining gas prices might be coming to an end. While the cost per a gallon hit $3.06 on Dec. 18, prices are back on the rise.