by Calculated Risk on 3/23/2021 10:13:00 AM

The Census Bureau reports New Home Sales in February were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of 775 thousand.

The previous three months were revised up.

Sales of new single-family houses in February 2021 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 775,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 18.2 percent below the revised January rate of 948,000, but is 8.2 percent above the February 2020 estimate of 716,000.
emphasis added

Click on graph for larger image.

The first graph shows New Home Sales vs. recessions since 1963. The dashed line is the current sales rate.

The last nine months saw the highest sales rates since 2006.   This was decent year-over-year growth.

The second graph shows New Home Months of Supply.

The months of supply increased in February to 4.8 months from 3.8 months in January.

The all time record high was 12.1 months of supply in January 2009. The all time record low is 3.5 months, most recently in October 2020.

This is in the normal range (about 4 to 6 months supply is normal).

"The seasonally-adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of February was 312,000. This represents a supply of 4.8 months at the current sales rate. "

On inventory, according to the Census Bureau:

"A house is considered for sale when a permit to build has been issued in permit-issuing places or work has begun on the footings or foundation in nonpermit areas and a sales contract has not been signed nor a deposit accepted."

Starting in 1973 the Census Bureau broke this down into three categories: Not Started, Under Construction, and Completed.

The third graph shows the three categories of inventory starting in 1973.

The inventory of completed homes for sale is low, and the combined total of completed and under construction is a little lower than normal.

The last graph shows sales NSA (monthly sales, not seasonally adjusted annual rate).

In February 2021 (red column), 64 thousand new homes were sold (NSA). Last year, 63 thousand homes were sold in February

The all time high for February was 109 thousand in 2005, and the all time low for February was 22 thousand in 2011.

This was well below expectations, however sales in the three previous months were revised up. I'll have more later today.