MARKET TRENDS BLOG POST

Did You Know?

- 12/10/18

The total net worth of U.S. households rose by 1.9% or $2.07 trillion in the third quarter of 2018 to $109.04 trillion, as higher property and stock prices boosted the wealth of Americans. These figures released by the Federal Reserve are before the 4th quarter's equity market swoon. Household debt also increased at a 3.4% seasonally adjusted annual rate, up from a 2.9% rate in the second quarter. (WSJ)

The housing market comprises a little less than 14% of US GDP yet is a larger part of the overall economy than the oil and gas industry: the mining sector constituted just under 2% of GDP in the second quarter of 2018.

U.S. luxury home builder Toll Brothers reported today a fall in 4th-quarter orders, as demand was hurt by rising interest rates and higher home prices. "In November, we saw the market soften further, which we attribute to the cumulative impact of rising interest rates and the effect on buyer sentiment of well-publicized reports of a housing slowdown." (CNBC)

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