Home Builder Optimism Highest in Over Six Years

Washington, DC, Sept. 18, 2012 -- Home builder optimism rose in September for the fifth straight month to reach the highest level in more than six years, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo housing market index.

The index gained three points to a seasonally adjusted reading of 40, the highest the index has been since June 2006. Economists had anticipated a reading of 38.

A 50 reading indicates “good” conditions. The index hit a low of 8 during the recession and didn’t break 20 until December 2011.

Gains were made for each of the three components. Present sales rose 4 points to 42, sales for the next six months jumped 8 points to 51, while traffic of prospective buyers edged up 1 point to 31.


Other Archived Articles

Builders More Confident in Market for 55+ Homes   Full Article
Washington, DC, May 9, 2013 -- Builders are growing more confident in the market for single-family homes for the over-55 crowd but they still aren't thrilled with it.

Initial Jobless Claims Lowest in Over Five Years   Full Article
Washington, DC, May 9, 2013 -- Initial jobless claims last week fell to the lowest level since January 2008, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Ceramics of Italy Names Top NA Distributor   Full Article
New York, NY, May 9, 2013 -- Ceramics of Italy said it has named Mosaic Tile Company as the recipient of the 2013 Confindustria Ceramica North American Distributor Award.

Mortgage Application Volume Rises   Full Article
Washington, DC, May 9, 2013 -- Mortgage application volume rose 7% for the week ending May 3, compared with the week before, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Pergo Gets Favorable Patent Ruling in Sweden   Full Article
Dallas, May 8, 2013 –- The Swedish Court of Appeals has overturned a ruling that had invalidated a Pergo patent related to so-called fold-down flooring planks.

Mattex To Build Manufacturing Facility in Georgia   Full Article
Atlanta, GA, May 8, 2013 -- Mattex, a Dubai and Saudi Arabian carpet backings producer, will expand its operations in North Georgia by building an extrusion manufacturing plant in Murray County.

Centiva Awards School Innovation Grant   Full Article
Florence, AL, May 8, 2013 -- Resilient maker Centiva said that Delores T. Aaron Elementary in New Orleans is the recipient of its Centiva Green School Innovation Grant for the 2013-2014 school year.

USFContract Named Fuse Alliance Supplier   Full Article
Aurora, CO, May 8, 2013 -- The Fuse Alliance said that USFContract is its newest preferred supplier.

Former BPS CEO Minite Gets New Job   Full Article
Santa Fe Springs, CA, May 8, 2013 -- Former Bentley Prince Street CEO has been named president and general manager of a new company, Paralleltek.

Shamrock Plank Flooring To Add Manufacturing   Full Article
Memphis, TN, May 8, 2013 -- Shamrock Plank Flooring, a division of J.T. Shannon Lumber, is expanding its presence in North Mississippi by adding new manufacturing operations in a 62,900 square-foot facility.

Job Postings Decline in March   Full Article
Washington, DC, May 8, 2013 -- Employers posted fewer job openings in March compared with February, according to the Labor Department.

Starnet Honors Design Awards Winners   Full Article
Darien, CT, May 8, 2013 -- — Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring recently honored 14 members in the 13th Annual Starnet Design Awards.

Consolidated Carpet Wins Starnet Awards   Full Article
New York, NY, May 7, 2013 -– Consolidated Carpet said it won two Starnet Design Awards at the 2013 annual awards event.

Internet Sales Tax Bill Goes to Conservative House   Full Article
Washington, DC, May 7, 2013 -- Although the Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass a bill to empower states to collect sales taxes from Internet purchases, the bill faces a much more uncertain future in the House.

Improving Housing Markets List Ticks Down   Full Article
Washington, DC, May 7, 2013 -- The number of U.S. housing markets showing sustained improvement fell slightly to 258 in May from 273 in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Improving Markets Index.

Mannington Files Appeal in Home Legend Dispute   Full Article
Rome, GA, May 6, 2013 -- Mannington Mills in April was handed a setback in a copyright-infringement dispute with laminate maker Home Legend over a line of maple-look laminate.

GSA Committee Recommends LEED as Measure   Full Article
Washington, DC, May 6, 2013 -- The Green Building Advisory Committee has officially recommended that the LEED green building certification system be used for all GSA buildings as the best measure of building efficiency.

Mohawk's Wright Named Chairman of Two Groups   Full Article
Amelia Island, FL, May 6, 2013 -- The Georgia Association of Manufacturers and the Manufacturers Education Foundation each elected new officers and board members at the 113th Annual Meeting of GAM and the 70th Annual Meeting of MEF.

First-Time Delinquencies Lowest in Six Years   Full Article
New York, NY, May 6, 2013 -- First-time delinquent home loans fell to 0.84% of the 50.2 million mortgages in March, according to Lender Processing Services.

Services Sector Expands at Slower Pace in April   Full Article
Washington, DC, May 3, 2013 -- The services sector of the economy expanded at a slower pace in April than March, according to the Institute for Supply Management.