New Home Inventories Continue Shrinking in April

The number of newly built single-family homes on the market shrank to 297,000 units in April, thinning supplies to their lowest level since May 2001, according to government figures released in late May. The report noted that the pace of new-home sales held virtually even with the previous month, at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 352,000 units.

“This continued reduction in the new-homes inventory helps bring supply in line with demand, which is an important step toward the market’s recovery. We can expect the pace of new home sales to bounce along the bottom a bit before picking back up towards the end of this quarter,” noted NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe.

Sales of newly built, single-family homes recorded a marginal 0.3% gain to 352,000 units in April from a downwardly revised pace in March. Meanwhile, the inventory of new homes for sale declined 4.2% to 297,000 units, which is a 10.1-month supply at the current sales pace.

Regionally, the pace of new home sales was mixed in April. No change was recorded in the Northeast or Midwest, while the South posted a nearly 2% increase and the West a 3.8% decline.

Craig DiLouie

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