NEW_HOME_SALES
New Home Sales
Census/HUD monthly count of newly built homes sold — a demand-side read on the most rate-sensitive corner of the economy.
| Published by | US Census Bureau / HUD |
|---|---|
| Frequency | Monthly, around the fourth week |
| Release time | 10:00 AM ET |
What it measures
New home sales record signed contracts on newly built single-family homes, plus inventory and median prices. Contract-based timing makes it more current than closings-based measures.
Why traders watch it
- It reacts to mortgage-rate moves almost in real time — a live test of housing demand under the current rate regime.
- Months’ supply of new homes guides builders’ production and discounting behavior.
How to read it
- Watch months’ supply and median price together with the sales count.
- Small sample, huge revisions — confidence intervals are wide; read trends, not single prints.
FAQ
How is this different from existing home sales?
New home sales record contracts on newly built homes and respond faster to rates; existing sales record closings on the resale market with more lag.
Why are revisions so large?
It is a small-sample survey of builders. Single-month moves are statistical noise more often than signal — the trend is what carries information.
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The official source of each release is authoritative. Not investment advice.