Goldman Sachs boosts CEO David Solomon's compensation. Nike's job cuts. Outlook for US commercial real estate. Preliminary release of Michigan consumer sentiment data. US housing starts data.
Despite the decline in housing starts, larger home builders are well-positioned for growth due to access to resources and low inventory for existing homes.
Consumer sentiment remains optimistic towards the housing market, with expectations for robust growth in personal incomes and continued strength in labor markets.
Deep dives
Housing starts decline in February, driven by a drop in multifamily construction
In February, housing starts declined by 14.8%, with the biggest decrease seen in multifamily construction, while single-family housing starts were down 4.5%. However, building permits, which indicate future construction, increased by 2% from the previous month and are up more than 40% from the previous year. This suggests that the trajectory for single-family housing remains positive, with larger home builders in a better position to capitalize on the market due to their access to land, labor, and capital.
Home builders likely to continue growing in 2024
Despite the decline in housing starts, the broader outlook for home builders remains positive. With low inventory for existing homes, the demand for new construction is expected to continue. Large publicly traded home builders are well-positioned for growth, as they can offer incentives and navigate rising mortgage rates, while smaller builders may face challenges accessing financing and sustaining growth.
Consumer sentiment improves in February, reflecting positive outlook for the housing market
Consumer sentiment towards the housing market remains optimistic, with expectations for robust growth in personal incomes and continued strength in labor markets. While inflation is a concern, particularly with rising gas prices, overall sentiment has solidified recent gains. The impact of the upcoming election on consumer sentiment is being closely watched, but the current trajectory suggests continued strength in the housing market.
Housing market affordability a challenge with rising mortgage rates
Affordability in the housing market remains a challenge as mortgage rates inch higher. The ideal rate range for stimulating demand is around 5.5%, but rates are currently above 7%. Builders will need to consider incentives to offset the impact of higher rates and make new construction more comparable to existing homes. As rates fluctuate, the ability to buy down rates and meet market demands will be crucial for sustaining growth.
Sridhar Natarajan, Bloomberg News Senior Finance Reporter, discusses Goldman Sachs boosting CEO David Solomon’s compensation. Poonam Goyal, Senior U.S. E-Commerce and Retail Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, discusses Nike’s job cuts. Steve Steinour, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Huntington Bank, discusses his outlook for U.S commercial real estate. Joanne Hsu, University of Michigan Surveys of Consumers Director, discusses the preliminary release of Michigan consumer sentiment data. Drew Reading, Bloomberg Intelligence U.S Homebuilding Analyst, joins to discuss U.S Housing starts data.