Rate Alert! Rate Alerts Glossary Glossary Help Help
 
  Bankate.com
 
News and Advice Compare Rates Calculators
 
 
- advertisement -
 
 
Housing Starts (thousands)

Key economic statistics Updated 2/8/2012
This week Month ago Year ago
 Housing Starts (thousands) 470 447 417

- advertisement -

What it means: The number of new single-family homes (in thousands) on which construction has commenced.

How it's used: The strength of the economy, and the housing market in particular, is often pegged to the level of housing starts. After all, if consumers are confident enough about their prospects to have a new home built, that must be a good economic indicator. This is also a barometer for the housing market, which is a leading indicator for mortgage activity and spending on household items. Back to key economic statistics page

 

 
 
 RESOURCES
Safe & Sound bank ratings
Sign up for free rate alerts
Fed Outlook: Blogging the Federal Reserve
 TOP STORIES
Winner or loser: Mortgage shopper
Winner or loser: Home equity loans
Winner or loser: Auto loans
 

Mortgages
Compare today's rates
NATIONAL OVERNIGHT AVERAGES
30 yr fixed mtg 3.89%
15 yr fixed mtg 3.21%
5/1 ARM 2.87%
Rates may include points
- advertisement -
 
- advertisement -




About Bankrate | Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights | Online Media Kit | Partnerships | Investor Relations | Press Room | Contact Us | Sitemap
NYSE: RATE | RSS Feeds |

* Mortgage rate may include points. See rate tables for details. Click here.
* To see the definition of overnight averages click here.

Bankrate.com ®, Copyright © 2012 Bankrate, Inc., All Rights Reserved, Terms of Use.