Consumer Sentiment: PRELIMINARY Results for October 2025

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) - PRELIMINARY Results for October, 2025 was released today:

Predicted: 55.0

• Actual: 55.0

=========

• Change from Previous Month: -0.18% (-0.1 point)
  
  

• Change from 12 Months Previous: -21.99% (-15.5 points)

=========

• Final ICS Reading for September 2025: 55.1
  
  
• Final ICS Reading for October 2024: 70.5

=========

From Today's Report:

"...Consumer sentiment moved sideways this month. At 55 index points, sentiment is virtually unchanged from September. Improvements this month in current personal finances and year-ahead business conditions were offset by declines in expectations for future personal finances as well as current buying conditions for durables.

Overall, consumers perceive very few changes in the outlook for the economy from last month. Pocketbook issues like high prices and weakening job prospects remain at the forefront of consumers’ minds.

At this time, consumers do not expect meaningful improvement in these factors. Meanwhile, interviews reveal little evidence that the ongoing federal government shutdown has moved consumers’ views of the economy thus far.

Year-ahead inflation expectations ebbed from 4.7% last month to a still-high 4.6% this month. Long-run inflation expectations held steady at 3.7%. Inflation expectations for both time horizons are about midway between the readings seen a year ago and the highs seen this year in April and May in the wake of the initial announcements of major tariff changes..."

=========

CHART: Since Converging in May 2025,
 Sentiment Lifted for Consumers with Large Stock
Holdings and Fell for Non-Stockholders

 =========

The ICS is derived from the following five survey questions:

1. "We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you (and your family living there) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?"
   
   
2. "Now looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?"
   
   
3. "Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?"
   
   
4. "Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely: that in the country as a whole we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, or that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what?"
   
   
5. "About the big things people buy for their homes, such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that. Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?"
   

=========

• Click here for more on how the ICS is calculated.

=========

The ICS uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the ICS = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as those polled back in 1966.

The ICS is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer valuable insight into consumer spending.

=========

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=========

• Click here to view the full University of Michigan report.

========= 

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for SEPTEMBER 2025

Consumer Confidence Index® (CCI) for this month (September, 2025) was released by The Conference Board®:

================

Predicted: 95.0

• Actual: 94.2

================

Previous Month (revised): 97.8

• Change from Previous Month: -3.68% (-3.6 points)
  

================

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

From Today's Report:

"...'Consumer confidence weakened in September, declining to the lowest level since April 2025,' said Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at The Conference Board. 'The present situation component registered its largest drop in a year. Consumers’ assessment of business conditions was much less positive than in recent months, while their appraisal of current job availability fell for the ninth straight month to reach a new multiyear low. This is consistent with the decline in job openings. Expectations also weakened in September, but to a lesser extent. Consumers were a bit more pessimistic about future job availability and future business conditions but optimism about future  income increased, mitigating the overall decline in the Expectations Index.'

Among demographic groups, confidence rose for consumers under 35 years old but declined for consumers over 35. The evolution of confidence by income group was mixed, with no clear pattern emerging. By income, confidence remained above its April low for all consumer cohorts besides households making between $25K and $35K and those making above $200K. By partisan affiliation, confidence improved slightly among both Republicans and Democrats but dropped substantially among Independents.  

Guichard added: 'Consumers’ write-in responses showed that references to prices and inflation rose in September, regaining its top position as the main topic influencing consumers’ views of the economy. References to tariffs declined this month, but remained elevated and continued to be associated with concerns about higher prices. Nonetheless, consumers’ average 12-month inflation expectations inched down, to 5.8% in September from 6.1% in August. This is still notably above 5.0%, the level at the end of 2024.'..."

================

Every month, The Conference Board sends a questionnaire to 5,000 U.S. households. Survey participants are polled about their feelings regarding the U.S. economy, current and future, and about their own fiscal circumstances. On average, 3,500 participants complete and return the 5-question survey.

• The baseline "100" score for the CCI is associated with 1985 survey data.

When consumers feel good about the economy, they tend to do more spending, and vice versa.

Based in New York City, The Conference Board® is a private, not-for-profit organization with a mission to, "create and disseminate knowledge about management and the marketplace to help businesses strengthen their performance and better serve society."

The CCI is usually released on the last Tuesday of the month.

================  

CHART: Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)
SEPTEMBER 2025 Update

========================================

• Click here to view the full Conference Board report.

========================================= 

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Consumer Sentiment: FINAL Results for September 2025

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) - FINAL Results for September 2025 was released today:

Predicted: 55.5

• Actual: 55.1

=========

• Change from Previous Month: -5.33% (-3.1 points)
  
  

• Change from 12-Months Previous: -21.4% (-15.0 points)

=========

• Final ICS Reading for August 2025: 58.2
  
  
• Final ICS Reading for September 2024: 70.1

=========

From Today's Report:

"...Consumer sentiment confirmed its early-month reading and eased about 5% from last month but remains above the low readings seen in April and May of this year. Although September’s decline was relatively modest, it was still seen across a broad swath of the population, across groups by age, income, and education, and all five index components.

A key exception: sentiment for consumers with larger stock holdings held steady in September, while for those with smaller or no holdings, sentiment decreased.

This month, sentiment moved down about 9% for independents and 4% for Republicans, whereas it lifted this month for Democrats. Nationally, not only did macroeconomic expectations fall, particularly for labor markets and business conditions, but personal expectations did as well, with a softening outlook for their own incomes and personal finances.

Consumers continue to express frustration over the persistence of high prices, with 44% spontaneously mentioning that high prices are eroding their personal finances, the highest reading in a year.

Interviews this month highlight the fact that consumers feel pressure both from the prospect of higher inflation as well as the risk of weaker labor markets.

Year-ahead inflation expectations receded slightly to 4.7% from 4.8% last month. Long-run inflation expectations moved up for the second straight month to 3.7% in September, but stand much lower than the 4.4% spike seen in April..."

=========

CHART: Uncertainty Over Path of Inflation Plunges 
Since May 2025, but Remains Historically High 
SEPTEMBER 2025 UPDATE
 =========

The ICS is derived from the following five survey questions:

1. "We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you (and your family living there) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?"
   
   
2. "Now looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?"
   
   
3. "Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?"
   
   
4. "Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely: that in the country as a whole we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, or that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what?"
   
   
5. "About the big things people buy for their homes, such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that. Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?"
   

=========

• Click here for more on how the ICS is calculated.

=========

The ICS uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the ICS = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as those polled back in 1966.

The ICS is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer valuable insight into consumer spending.

=========

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=========

• Click here to view the full University of Michigan report.

========= 

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Existing Home Sales During AUGUST 2025

Existing Home Sales report for August 2025 was released by The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR®) this morning:

======================

Previous Month: 4,010,000

• Actual: 4,000,000

======================

•  Change from Previous Month: -0.25% (-10,000 homes)
  
  
•  Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y): +1.78% (+70,000 homes)

======================

• Inventory: 1,530,000 homes.

(4.6 months supply | +160,000 [+11.68%] homes Y-o-Y.)

======================

The yellow-highlighted, "actual" figure above represents the preliminary, seasonally adjusted annualized sales count of existing homes, co-ops and condominiums for the indicated month. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

------------------------------------------------------

• Median Price: $422,600
  
  
• Price Change from A Year Ago: +2.03% (+$8,400)

------------------------------------------------------ 

==========

• Click Here for Historical Prices and a Chart.
  
  
• Click Here for New Home Sales Data.
  
  
• Click Here for the monthly New Home Sales report.

==========

From Today's Report:

"...'Home sales have been sluggish over the past few years due to elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory,' said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "However, mortgage rates are declining and more inventory is coming to the market, which should boost sales in the coming months.'

'Record-high housing wealth and a record-high stock market will help current homeowners trade up and benefit the upper end of the market. However, sales of affordable homes are constrained by the lack of inventory,' Yun added. "The Midwest was the best-performing region last month, primarily due to relatively affordable market conditions. The median home price in the Midwest is 22% below the national median price.'..."

==================

INFOGRAPHIC: Existing Home Sales

AUGUST 2025 UPDATE
(Copyright © 2025 REALTORS®)

==================

==================

• Click here to view the NAR® data.

==================

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

New Home Sales During AUGUST 2025

The August, 2025 New Home Sales report was released by the Commerce Department this morning:

------------------------------------------------------

Previous Month (revised): 664,000

• Actual New Home Sales: 800,000

------------------------------------------------------

• Change from One-Month Previous: +136,000 units (+20.48%)
  
  
• Change from One-Year Previous: +107,000 units (+15.44%)

------------------------------------------------------

Median Price for a New Home
During August, 2025: $413,500

• Change from One-Year Previous: +$7,700 (+1.9%)

 ***************************

Average Price for a New Home
During August, 2025: $534,100

• Change from One-Year Previous: +$58,500 (+12.3%)

------------------------------------------------------
Inventory: 490,000 (+19,000 units / +4.03% Year-on-Year)

• 7.4 months supply at current sales rate; seasonally‐adjusted estimate.

------------------------------------------------------

================================

CHART: Cost of A Newly Built Home
AUGUST 2025 Update

================================

• CHART: Cost of A Newly Built Home.
  
  
• Click Here for Existing Home Sales Prices and a Chart.
  
  
• Click Here for The Monthly Existing Home Sales Report.

================================

Compiled jointly by the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the yellow-highlighted figure above is the seasonally adjusted and annualized number of newly-built homes with committed buyers for the indicated month.

The New Home Sales report is watched by economists and investors because it offers insight into the state of the U.S. housing market, and also provides data that can be used to predict sales of large household furniture and appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc.

================================

• Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF)
  
  

================================

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Consumer Sentiment: PRELIMINARY Results for September 2025

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) - PRELIMINARY Results for September, 2025 was released today:

Predicted: 58.0

• Actual: 55.4

=========

• Change from Previous Month: -4.81% (-2.8 points)
  
  

• Change from 12 Months Previous: -21.0% (-14.7 points)

=========

• Final ICS Reading for August 2025: 58.2
  
  
• Final ICS Reading for September 2024: 70.1

=========

From Today's Report:

"...Consumer sentiment moved down less than three index points in early September. This month’s easing in economic views was particularly strong among lower and middle income consumers. Buying conditions for durables improved, while all other index components fell.

Consumers continue to note multiple vulnerabilities in the economy, with rising risks to business conditions, labor markets, and inflation.

Likewise, consumers perceive risks to their pocketbooks as well; current and expected personal finances both eased about 8% this month.

Trade policy remains highly salient to consumers, with about 60% of consumers providing unprompted comments about tariffs during interviews, little changed from last month.

Still, sentiment remains above April and May 2025 readings, immediately after the initial announcement of reciprocal tariffs.

Year-ahead inflation expectations held steady at 4.8%, unchanged from August. Long-run inflation expectations moved up for the second straight month to 3.9% in September. This current reading is considerably lower than the 4.4% seen in April..."

=========

CHART: Consumers Continue to Expect Unemployment
to Rise, with Heightened Risks of Personal Job Loss
AUGUST 2025 UPDATE
 =========

The ICS is derived from the following five survey questions:

1. "We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you (and your family living there) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?"
   
   
2. "Now looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?"
   
   
3. "Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?"
   
   
4. "Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely: that in the country as a whole we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, or that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what?"
   
   
5. "About the big things people buy for their homes, such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that. Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?"
   

=========

• Click here for more on how the ICS is calculated.

=========

The ICS uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the ICS = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as those polled back in 1966.

The ICS is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer valuable insight into consumer spending.

=========

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=========

• Click here to view the full University of Michigan report.

========= 

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Powerball® for September 13, 2025 Drawing: FREE POWERBALL TICKET for Completing A Short Survey

Right now, the Powerball® jackpot for the Saturday, September 13, 2025 drawing is $50 million (estimated.)

So I got an email message from the most excellent folks @  NY.Lotto.com, informing me that I qualify for a free Powerball lottery ticket, in exchange for completing a quick survey.

So I jumped on it.

Took me less than 2 minutes to complete, and the free ticket was available right away.

I am not sure how I qualified for this offer, but you can click here for the survey.

Hopefully, all U.S. residents can qualify. 

Anything you win can be transferred directly to your bank account via the Internet.  Easy peasy.

If you play, have fun, and good luck! 🔮🎉✌😊

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Powerball® Jackpot Is $1.8 Billion for the Saturday, September 6, 2025 Drawing

I am not a lottery person.  It's not a smart thing to do.  

But when a jackpot gets really big, I may play with no more than $5, just for fun. 😊  

The overall odds of winning a Powerball® prize are 1 in 24.87.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338.😐

So when I saw that the Powerball® jackpot soared to 💰$1.7 BILLION💸...I just had to play!😇

I did not win on Wednesday, but since there was no jackpot winner, Saturday's jackpot is now $1.8 billion (cash value is considerably lower.)

So imagine how happy I was to find that amazing folks at NY.Lotto.com gave me another chance FOR FREE!

So now I am "In It to WIN IT" for the Saturday, September 6, 2025 drawing.

And I don't even have to leave the house to play!  I love the Internet So MUCH! 😌

Winnings can be transferred directly to your bank account.  Easy peasy.

For some perspective on this massive jackpot...⯆

Top Ten Powerball® Jackpots

$2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
$1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA
$1.70 Billion (estimated) – Sept. 6, 2025
$1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
$1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR
$1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
$842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – MI
$768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
$758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA
$754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - WA

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Consumer Sentiment: FINAL Results for August 2025

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) - FINAL Results for August 2025 was released today:

Predicted: 58.5

• Actual: 58.2

=========

• Change from Previous Month: -5.67% (-3.5 points)
  
  

• Change from 12 Months Previous: -14.29% (-9.7 points)

=========

• Final ICS Reading for July 2025: 61.7
  
  
• Final ICS Reading for August 2024: 67.9

=========

From Today's Report:

"...Consumer sentiment confirmed its early-month reading, moving down about 6% from July. Sentiment now stands about 11% above readings from April and May but remains at least 10% below 6 and 12 months ago. This month’s decrease was visible across groups by age, income, and stock wealth. Moreover, perceptions of many aspects of the economy slipped. Buying conditions for durable goods subsided to their lowest reading in a year, and current personal finances declined 7%, both due to heightened concerns about high prices.

Expectations for business conditions and labor markets contracted in August as well. That said, expectations for personal finances held steady this month, albeit at relatively subdued levels relative to a year ago. This month, few consumers spontaneously mentioned the recent events at the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Federal Reserve (interviews closed on Monday, August 25, the day Trump announced he was firing Governor Cook).

Year-ahead inflation expectations moved up from 4.5% last month to 4.8% this month. This rise was seen across multiple demographic groups. Independents and Republicans both exhibited month-over-month increases; expectations for Democrats were unchanged from July. Long-run inflation expectations edged up from 3.4% in July to 3.5% in August. This month ended two consecutive months of receding inflation for short-run expectations and three straight months for long-run expectations. Still, both readings remain well below the highs seen briefly in April and May 2025..."

=========

CHART: Despite Large Partisan Gaps in Recent Years,
Growing Shares of Consumers Across the
Political Spectrum Expect Lower Interest Rates
AUGUST 2025 UPDATE
 =========

The ICS is derived from the following five survey questions:

1. "We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you (and your family living there) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?"
   
   
2. "Now looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?"
   
   
3. "Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?"
   
   
4. "Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely: that in the country as a whole we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, or that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what?"
   
   
5. "About the big things people buy for their homes, such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that. Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?"
   

=========

• Click here for more on how the ICS is calculated.

=========

The ICS uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the ICS = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as those polled back in 1966.

The ICS is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer valuable insight into consumer spending.

=========

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=========

• Click here to view the full University of Michigan report.

========= 

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) for AUGUST 2025

Consumer Confidence Index® (CCI) for this month (August, 2025) was released by The Conference Board® this morning:

================

Predicted: 95.0

• Actual: 97.4

================

Previous Month (revised): 98.7

• Change from Previous Month: -1.32% (-1.3 points)
  

================

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

From Today's Report:

"...'Consumer confidence dipped slightly in August but remained at a level similar to those of the past three months,' said Stephanie Guichard, Senior Economist, Global Indicators at The Conference Board. 'The present situation and the expectation components both weakened. Notably, consumers’ appraisal of current job availability declined for the eighth consecutive month, but stronger views of current business conditions mitigated the retreat in the Present Situation Index.

Meanwhile, pessimism about future job availability inched up and optimism about future income faded slightly. However, these were partly offset by stronger expectations for future business conditions.'..."

================

Every month, The Conference Board sends a questionnaire to 5,000 U.S. households. Survey participants are polled about their feelings regarding the U.S. economy, current and future, and about their own fiscal circumstances. On average, 3,500 participants complete and return the 5-question survey.

• The baseline "100" score for the CCI is associated with 1985 survey data.

When consumers feel good about the economy, they tend to do more spending, and vice versa.

Based in New York City, The Conference Board® is a private, not-for-profit organization with a mission to, "create and disseminate knowledge about management and the marketplace to help businesses strengthen their performance and better serve society."

The CCI is usually released on the last Tuesday of the month.

================  

CHART: Consumer Confidence Index (CCI)
AUGUST 2025 Update

========================================

• Click here to view the full Conference Board report.

========================================= 

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

New Home Sales During JULY 2025

The July, 2025 New Home Sales report was released by the Commerce Department this morning:

------------------------------------------------------

Previous Month (revised): 656,000

• Actual New Home Sales: 652,000

------------------------------------------------------

• Change from 1 Month Previous: -4,000 units (-0.61%)
  
  
• Change from 1 Year Previous: -58,000 units (-8.17%)

------------------------------------------------------

Median Price for a New Home
During July, 2025: $403,800

• Change from 1 Year Previous: -$25,200 (-5.87%)

 ***************************

Average Price for a New Home
During July, 2025: $487,300

• Change from 1 Year Previous: -$25,900 (-5.05%)

------------------------------------------------------
Inventory: 499,000 (+34,000 units / +7.31% Year-on-Year)

• 9.2 months supply at current sales rate; seasonally‐adjusted estimate.

------------------------------------------------------

================================

CHART: Cost of A Newly Built Home
JULY 2025 Update

================================

• CHART: Cost of A Newly Built Home.
  
  
• Click Here for Existing Home Sales Prices and a Chart.
  
  
• Click Here for The Monthly Existing Home Sales Report.

================================

Compiled jointly by the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the yellow-highlighted figure above is the seasonally adjusted and annualized number of newly-built homes with committed buyers for the indicated month.

The New Home Sales report is watched by economists and investors because it offers insight into the state of the U.S. housing market, and also provides data that can be used to predict sales of large household furniture and appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc.

================================

• Click here to view the full Commerce Department report (PDF)
  
  

================================

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Existing Home Sales During JULY 2025

Existing Home Sales report for July 2025 was released by The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR®) this morning:

======================

Previous Month: 3,930,000

• Actual: 4,010,000

======================

•  Change from Previous Month: +2.04% (+80,000 homes)
  
  
•  Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y): +0.75% (+30,000 homes)

======================

• Inventory: 1,550,000 homes.

(4.6 months supply | +210,000 [+15.67%] homes Y-o-Y.)

======================

The yellow-highlighted, "actual" figure above represents the preliminary, seasonally adjusted annualized sales count of existing homes, co-ops and condominiums for the indicated month. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

------------------------------------------------------

• Median Price: $422,400
  
  
• Price Change from A Year Ago: +0.24% (+$1,000)

------------------------------------------------------ 

==========

• Click Here for Historical Prices and a Chart.
  
  
• Click Here for New Home Sales Data.
  
  
• Click Here for the monthly New Home Sales report.

==========

From Today's Report:

"...'The ever-so-slight improvement in housing affordability is inching up home sales,' said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. 'Wage growth is now comfortably outpacing home price growth, and buyers have more choices. Condominium sales increased in the South region, where prices had been falling for the past year.'

'Near-zero growth in home prices suggests that roughly half the country is experiencing price reductions. Overall, homeowners are doing well financially. Only 2% of sales were foreclosures or short sales -- essentially a historic low. The market's health is supported by a cumulative 49% home price appreciation for a typical American homeowner from pre-COVID July 2019 to July this year,' Dr. Yun continued.

'Homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years to find the right home and negotiate for a better price. Current inventory is at its highest since May 2020, during the COVID lockdown.'..."

==================

INFOGRAPHIC: Existing Home Sales
JULY 2025 UPDATE
(Copyright © 2025 REALTORS®)

==================

==================

• Click here to view the NAR® data.

==================

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--

Consumer Sentiment: Preliminary Results for August 2025

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) - Preliminary Results for August 2025 was released today:

Predicted: 60.0

• Actual: 58.6

=========

• Change from Previous Month: -5.02% (-3.1 points)
  
  

• Change from 12 Months Previous: -13.7% (-9.3 points)

=========

• Final ICS Reading for July 2025: 61.7
  
  
• Final ICS Reading for August 2024: 67.9

=========

From Today's Report:

"...Consumer sentiment fell back about 5% in August, declining for the first time in four months. This deterioration largely stems from rising worries about inflation. Buying conditions for durables plunged 14%, its lowest reading in a year, on the basis of high prices. Current personal finances declined modestly amid growing concerns about purchasing power.

In contrast, expected personal finances inched up a touch along with a slight firming in income expectations, which remain subdued. Overall, consumers are no longer bracing for the worst-case scenario for the economy feared in April when reciprocal tariffs were announced and then paused.

However, consumers continue to expect both inflation and unemployment to deteriorate in the future.

Year-ahead inflation expectations rose from 4.5% last month to 4.9% this month. This increase was seen across multiple demographic groups and all three political affiliations. Long-run  inflation expectations also lifted from 3.4% in July to 3.9% in August.

This month ended two consecutive months of receding inflation for short-run expectations and three straight months for long-run expectations. Still, both readings remain well below the highs seen briefly in April and May 2025..."

=========

CHART: Unemployment and Inflation Expectations Worsen
in August, Partially Offsetting Recent Improvements
AUGUST 2025 Preliminary UPDATE
 =========

The ICS is derived from the following five survey questions:

1. "We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you (and your family living there) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?"
   
   
2. "Now looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?"
   
   
3. "Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?"
   
   
4. "Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely: that in the country as a whole we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, or that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what?"
   
   
5. "About the big things people buy for their homes, such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that. Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?"
   

=========

• Click here for more on how the ICS is calculated.

=========

The ICS uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the ICS = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as those polled back in 1966.

The ICS is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer valuable insight into consumer spending.

=========

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=========

• Click here to view the full University of Michigan report.

========= 

--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <-- CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE --> SITEMAP <--