We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies, revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Construction Spending Slips in May Owing to Tepid Housing
Read MoreHide Full Article
Spending on U.S. construction projects fell in May. Weakness in non-residential construction and public projects has more than offset a modest gain in private homebuilding.
Spending on construction projects in the United States slipped 0.3% in May from the prior month after inching up 0.1% in April, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Jul 1. The May figure missed analysts’ expectation by 160%. On a year-over-year basis, overall spending on construction projects in the nation advanced 7.5%, with notable growth of 13.2% in private spending offset by an 8.7% drop in public outlays.
Spending on public construction projects dipped 0.2% in May, after decreasing 0.6% in April. Spending on government projects also declined 8.7% from a year ago, weighed down by lower capital outlays from the administration owing to falling tax revenues.
Meanwhile, private construction spending was down 0.3% for the month from April outlays, thanks to a 1.1% drop in private non-residential construction. This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of decline in investment in non-residential categories. Low spending on lodging and manufacturing was the main culprit.
Slowing Housing: A Culprit
Investment in private residential construction showed meager growth of 0.2% for May, aided by a 0.8% increase in single-family homebuilding. Apartments and other multifamily construction spending remained flat. Over the past year, spending on private housing construction was up 28.7%, backed by a 46.1% increase in investment in single-family construction and 25.6% in new multifamily.
Housing has been one of the few markets that displayed stern resilience to the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. This industry has experienced a strong recovery fueled by the rising need for more work-at-home space and record low mortgage rates. However, rising costs associated with building materials — especially framing lumber — are restricting builders' ability to speed up construction.
Last month, a report from the Commerce Department showed that permits for future home construction dropped to a seven-month low. Although housing starts rose 3.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.572 million units for May, housing completions slipped for the month. Also, sales of new U.S. single-family homes — a leading housing market indicator based on signed contracts, not closings — declined to a one-year low in May, marking the second-straight monthly decline. Furthermore, sales of existing homes — which account for bulk of U.S. home sales — dropped for the fourth straight month in May (read more: Does Declining Home Sales Signal End of COVID-Led Housing Boom?).
Although demand remains strong, challenges like inventory shortage are prevailing in the U.S. real estate market. Also, rising material costs are quite a challenge and are creating pressure on margins for homebuilding companies like Lennar (LEN - Free Report) , D.R. Horton (DHI - Free Report) , PulteGroup (PHM - Free Report) , Toll Brothers (TOL - Free Report) and others. Record-high prices have been pushing potential buyers away despite a low borrowing rate environment.
Strong Economic Fundamentals Raise Hope
Before becoming bearish, investors should note that economic fundamentals are still strong, given rising consumer confidence, and a solid GDP and job market.
Demand for higher-priced accommodations amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been driving the housing market. Sales of homes — priced $750,000-$1 million — jumped 178% in May, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Mortgage rates declined this week, with the key 30-year loan slipping back below the 3% mark as the economic recovery from the pandemic recession remains robust. Markedly, the U.S. GDP expanded 6.4% on an annualized basis for first-quarter 2021. On a further encouraging note, the Federal Reserve recently raised its 2021 real GDP forecast to 7% from 6.5%. Also, the Fed now envisions unemployment rate to be 4.5% for 2021, indicating a decline from the level of 5.8% in May 2021.
A low interest rate environment, lower unemployment rate, massive vaccination drive and declining coronavirus cases will likely drive the already-booming housing market going forward. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dropped again last week to the lowest level since the pandemic hit last year, thereby depicting that the job market and broader economy are rebounding rapidly from the coronavirus recession.
Zacks' Top Picks to Cash in on Artificial Intelligence
In 2021, this world-changing technology is projected to generate $327.5 billion in revenue. Now Shark Tank star and billionaire investor Mark Cuban says AI will create ""the world's first trillionaires."" Zacks' urgent special report reveals 3 AI picks investors need to know about today.
Image: Bigstock
Construction Spending Slips in May Owing to Tepid Housing
Spending on U.S. construction projects fell in May. Weakness in non-residential construction and public projects has more than offset a modest gain in private homebuilding.
Spending on construction projects in the United States slipped 0.3% in May from the prior month after inching up 0.1% in April, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Jul 1. The May figure missed analysts’ expectation by 160%. On a year-over-year basis, overall spending on construction projects in the nation advanced 7.5%, with notable growth of 13.2% in private spending offset by an 8.7% drop in public outlays.
Spending on public construction projects dipped 0.2% in May, after decreasing 0.6% in April. Spending on government projects also declined 8.7% from a year ago, weighed down by lower capital outlays from the administration owing to falling tax revenues.
Meanwhile, private construction spending was down 0.3% for the month from April outlays, thanks to a 1.1% drop in private non-residential construction. This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of decline in investment in non-residential categories. Low spending on lodging and manufacturing was the main culprit.
Slowing Housing: A Culprit
Investment in private residential construction showed meager growth of 0.2% for May, aided by a 0.8% increase in single-family homebuilding. Apartments and other multifamily construction spending remained flat. Over the past year, spending on private housing construction was up 28.7%, backed by a 46.1% increase in investment in single-family construction and 25.6% in new multifamily.
Housing has been one of the few markets that displayed stern resilience to the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. This industry has experienced a strong recovery fueled by the rising need for more work-at-home space and record low mortgage rates. However, rising costs associated with building materials — especially framing lumber — are restricting builders' ability to speed up construction.
Last month, a report from the Commerce Department showed that permits for future home construction dropped to a seven-month low. Although housing starts rose 3.6% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.572 million units for May, housing completions slipped for the month. Also, sales of new U.S. single-family homes — a leading housing market indicator based on signed contracts, not closings — declined to a one-year low in May, marking the second-straight monthly decline. Furthermore, sales of existing homes — which account for bulk of U.S. home sales — dropped for the fourth straight month in May (read more: Does Declining Home Sales Signal End of COVID-Led Housing Boom?).
Although demand remains strong, challenges like inventory shortage are prevailing in the U.S. real estate market. Also, rising material costs are quite a challenge and are creating pressure on margins for homebuilding companies like Lennar (LEN - Free Report) , D.R. Horton (DHI - Free Report) , PulteGroup (PHM - Free Report) , Toll Brothers (TOL - Free Report) and others. Record-high prices have been pushing potential buyers away despite a low borrowing rate environment.
Strong Economic Fundamentals Raise Hope
Before becoming bearish, investors should note that economic fundamentals are still strong, given rising consumer confidence, and a solid GDP and job market.
Demand for higher-priced accommodations amid the COVID-19 pandemic has been driving the housing market. Sales of homes — priced $750,000-$1 million — jumped 178% in May, according to the National Association of Realtors.
Mortgage rates declined this week, with the key 30-year loan slipping back below the 3% mark as the economic recovery from the pandemic recession remains robust. Markedly, the U.S. GDP expanded 6.4% on an annualized basis for first-quarter 2021. On a further encouraging note, the Federal Reserve recently raised its 2021 real GDP forecast to 7% from 6.5%. Also, the Fed now envisions unemployment rate to be 4.5% for 2021, indicating a decline from the level of 5.8% in May 2021.
A low interest rate environment, lower unemployment rate, massive vaccination drive and declining coronavirus cases will likely drive the already-booming housing market going forward. The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits dropped again last week to the lowest level since the pandemic hit last year, thereby depicting that the job market and broader economy are rebounding rapidly from the coronavirus recession.
Zacks' Top Picks to Cash in on Artificial Intelligence
In 2021, this world-changing technology is projected to generate $327.5 billion in revenue. Now Shark Tank star and billionaire investor Mark Cuban says AI will create ""the world's first trillionaires."" Zacks' urgent special report reveals 3 AI picks investors need to know about today.
See 3 Artificial Intelligence Stocks With Extreme Upside Potential>>