Economic Indicators
Indicators that provide signals about the current state and future direction of the economy and the housing market.
30-yr Fixed Rate Mortgage
| JUL. 2025 | JUL. 2026 | DEC. 2026 FORECAST |
|---|---|---|
| 6.7% | 6.5% | 6.6% |
30-yr FRM: Freddie Mac®, Forecast: Veros
Unemployment Rate
| JUL. 2025 | JUL. 2026 | DEC. 2026 FORECAST |
|---|---|---|
| 4.3% | 4.1% | 4.0% |
Unemployment rate: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Forecast: Veros
Inflation Rate
| JUL. 2025 | JUL. 2026 | DEC. 2026 FORECAST |
|---|---|---|
| 2.7% | 3.4% | 3.2% |
Inflation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Forecast: Veros
Hourly Earnings
| JUL. 2025 | JUL. 2026 |
|---|---|
| $36.47 | $37.62 |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
Housing Inventory
| JUL. 2025 | JUL. 2026 |
|---|---|
| 1.55 Million | 1.54 Million |
Source: National Association of Realtors
Housing Starts
| JUL. 2025 | JUL. 2026 |
|---|---|
| 1.432 Million | 1.239 Million |
Source: Census.gov
Housing Market Hotness Index
Discover housing market trends with the Market Hotness Index, a weekly metric utilizing proprietary data on housing activity, demand, and supply indicators across the top 100 U.S. counties.
- The Market Hotness Index is formulated through a combination of proprietary data pertaining to housing activity and demand and supply indicators for the 100 most populous counties in the U.S.
- The index is scheduled to be disseminated weekly and serves as a metric to identify markets gaining momentum or waning. A market exhibiting a score in the 95-105 range on this index is considered a stable market, with a score surpassing this range implying a hotter market, and a score below 95 indicating a cooling market.
Why Is the Housing Market Still Stuck as Summer Ends?
The U.S. Housing Market Hotness Index edged up to 95.24 for the week ending August 23, 2026, but elevated mortgage rates, high home prices, inflation, and economic uncertainty continue to constrain housing demand. Beneath the subdued national market, significant regional differences remain, with some counties showing stronger buyer demand while markets in parts of Florida, Texas, and Tennessee continue to lag.
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Has the U.S. Housing Market Already Peaked in 2026?
The U.S. Housing Market Hotness Index fell for a sixth consecutive week as elevated mortgage rates and rising homeownership costs continued to challenge affordability. National conditions remain subdued, but substantial differences in buyer demand are emerging across local housing markets.
High Mortgage Rates Continue to Cool the U.S. Housing Market
The U.S. Housing Market Hotness Index declined for the fifth consecutive week as elevated mortgage rates and affordability challenges continued to slow buyer demand and pending home sales. While the national housing market remains subdued, local market performance continues to diverge, with some counties showing resilience and others experiencing noticeably weaker housing activity.
U.S. Housing Market Slows as Local Markets Continue to Diverge
The U.S. Housing Market Hotness Index fell for the fourth consecutive week as high mortgage rates, affordability challenges, and economic uncertainty continued to slow buyer demand. While the national market remains soft, local housing markets are following very different paths.
U.S. Housing Market Hotness Index Falls as Mortgage Rates Rise
The U.S. Housing Market Hotness Index declined again as high mortgage rates and persistent affordability challenges slowed pending home sales and weakened overall housing demand. Discover which housing markets remain resilient despite the slowdown and where softer buyer demand continues to reshape local market conditions.
Housing Market Update: Buyer Demand Weakens in August 2026
The U.S. housing market cooled further in early August as mortgage rates near 6.6% and affordability pressures constrained buyer demand. But local markets are moving in very different directions, with some counties remaining resilient while others experience significantly weaker housing activity