Weekly Economic Update: June 25-29, 2012
New home sales rose 7.6% in May as pending home sales rose 5.9%. The Case-Shiller home price index was up 0.7% in April and down 1.9% from a year ago. Durable orders rose 1.1% in May. Real GDP grew at an annual pace of 1.9% in the 1st quarter of 2012. Personal income increased 0.2% in May as spending was unchanged. Initial jobless claims were down 6,000 to a level of 386,000 for the week ended 6/23.
- New home sales increased by a greater-than-expected 7.6% in May to an annual pace of 369,000 units. Sales were up 19.8% from a year ago. The median new home price of $234,500 was down 0.6% from April and up 5.6% from a year ago.
- Pending home sales were up 5.9% in May. The Case-Shiller home price index was up 0.7% in April. On a year-over-year basis, the index was down 1.9%. The index for the DC area was up 1.4% for the month, and up 1.6% from a year ago.
- Durable orders increased 1.1% in May. Excluding transportation,
orders were up 0.4%. - Real GDP growth for the 1st quarter of 2012 was 1.9%. The third estimate was unchanged from the previously reported second estimate.
- Personal income edged up 0.2% in May aspersonal spending was unchanged.
- Initial jobless claims declined 6,000 to a level of 386,000 for the week ended June 23rd.