by Calculated Risk on 5/20/2012 02:32:00 PM

The Depression led to an effort to enhance and expand data collection on employment, and I was hoping the housing bubble and bust would lead to a similar effort to collect better housing related data. From the BLS history:

[T]he growing crisis [the Depression], spurred action on improving employment statistics. In July [1930], Congress enacted a bill sponsored by Senator Wagner directing the Bureau to "collect, collate, report, and publish at least once each month full and complete statistics of the volume of and changes in employment." Additional appropriations were provided.

In the early stages of the Depression, policymakers were flying blind. But at least they recognized the need for better data, and took action. All business people know that when there is a problem, a key first step is to measure the problem. That is why I've been a strong supporter of trying to improve data collection on the number of households, vacant housing units, foreclosures and more.

But unfortunately some people want to eliminate a key source of data ...

From Matthew Philips at Businessweek: Killing the American Community Survey Blinds Business

On May 9 the House voted to kill the American Community Survey, which collects data on some 3 million households each year and is the largest survey next to the decennial census. The ACS—which has a long bipartisan history, including its funding in the mid-1990s and full implementation in 2005—provides data that help determine how more than $400 billion in federal and state funds are spent annually. Businesses also rely heavily on it to do such things as decide where to build new stores, hire new employees, and get valuable insights on consumer spending habits. Check out this video of Target (TGT) executives talking about how much they use ACS data.

From Catherine Rampell at the NY Times: The Beginning of the End of the Census?

“This is a program that intrudes on people’s lives, just like the Environmental Protection Agency or the bank regulators,” said Daniel Webster, a first-term Republican congressman from Florida who sponsored the relevant legislation.

“We’re spending $70 per person to fill this out. That’s just not cost effective,” he continued, “especially since in the end this is not a scientific survey. It’s a random survey.”

In fact, the randomness of the survey is precisely what makes the survey scientific, statistical experts say.

The good news is this vote is being criticized across the political spectrum ...

From the WSJ: Republicans try to kill data collection that helps economic growth

The House voted 232 to 190 to abolish the Census's American Community Survey, or ACS, which is the new version of the long-form questionnaire and is conducted annually. Republicans claim the long form—asking about everything from demographics to income to commuting times—is prying into private life and is unconstitutional.

In fact, the ACS provides some of the most accurate, objective and granular data about the economy and the American people, in something approaching real time. Ideally, Congress would use the information to make good decisions. Or economists and social scientists draw on the resource to offer better suggestions. Businesses also depend on the ACS's county-by-county statistics to inform investment and hiring decisions. As the great Peter Drucker had it, you can't manage or change what you don't measure.
...
Since the political class is attempting to define the GOP as insane and redefine "moderation" as anything President Obama favors, Republicans do themselves no favors by targeting a useful government purpose.

From the NY Times: Operating in the Dark

The Web site of Representative Daniel Webster, Republican of Florida, instructs visitors to click on a link for “Census data for the 8th district” to learn about the area’s economy, businesses, income, employment, homeownership and other important features. And yet, on Wednesday, Mr. Webster declared that the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey — the source for much of that data — is an unconstitutional breach of privacy.

From AEI's Norman Ornstein at Roll Call: Research Cuts Are Akin to Eating Seed Corn

significant was the House vote to eliminate the annual American Community Survey and the Economic Census to provide basic information on the state of businesses and industries in the country and data used for generating quarterly gross domestic product estimates.

If ever we need evidence of ideology run rampant, these actions become exhibit A. Learning about the population and about the economy are fundamental for a society to understand where it has been and where it is going ...

From the WaPo: The American Community Survey is a count worth keeping

Every year, the Census Bureau asks 3 million American households to answer questions on age, race, housing and health to produce timely information about localities, states and the country at large. This arrangement began as a bipartisan improvement on the decennial census. Yet last week the Republican-led House voted to kill the ACS. This is among the most shortsighted measures we have seen in this Congress, which is saying a lot.

And from Menzie Chinn at Econonbrowser: The War on Data Collection

Pretty sad. The only good news is this vote was condemned across the political spectrum.

by Calculated Risk on 5/20/2012 10:48:00 AM

Way back in 2005, I posted a graph of "the Real Estate Agent Boom". I saw the following article, and decided to update the graph of the number of real estate licensees in California.

Eric Wolff at the NC Times writes: Real estate agents bailing out, except in Southwest Riverside County

Real estate agents are getting out of the profession in California ---- except in Southwest Riverside County, according to the California Department of Real Estate and the Southwest Riverside County Association of Realtors.

A housing crunch left real estate agents faced with selling houses for less than what homeowners owed in mortgages, working with lenders suddenly terrified to give out loans, and otherwise battling headwinds that dramatically reduced their sales.

For many agents, especially those attracted by a housing boom that made the profession seem like easy money, that meant it was time to leave. But in Southwest Riverside County, a few people decided a slow market was just the time to jump in.

Click on graph for larger image.

Here is a long term graph of the number of real estate licensees in California. The number of agents peaked at the end of 2007 (housing activity peaked in 2005, and prices in 2006).

The number of salesperson's licenses is off 29% from the peak, and has fallen to 2004 levels. But brokers' licenses are only off 7% and has only fallen to early 2007 levels. Even if activity and prices have bottomed, the number of agents will probably continue to decline.

Yesterday:
• Summary for Week Ending May 18th
• Schedule for Week of May 20th

by Calculated Risk on 5/19/2012 09:53:00 PM

This is an unofficial list of Problem Banks compiled only from public sources.

Here is the unofficial problem bank list for May 18, 2012. (table is sortable by assets, state, etc.)

Changes and comments from surferdude808:

The OCC released its actions through mid-April 2012, which contributed to many changes in the Unofficial Problem Bank List. For the week, there were eight additions and four removals that leave the list with 928 institutions and assets of $361.9 billion. The list is up from 924 institutions last week, which represents the first weekly count increase since February 24th, a period of 11 weeks. A year ago, the list held 988 institutions with assets of $423.8 billion.

Among the removals is the failed Alabama Trust Bank, National Association, Sylacauga, AL ($56 million). There were two action terminations -- National Bank of Commerce, Birmingham, AL ($426 million) and BankTennessee, Collierville, TN ($247 million). The Peoples National Bank, Easley, SC ($324 million Ticker: PBCE) was removed because of an unassisted merger.

The eight additions this week are Sterling Bank and Trust, FSB, Southfield, MI ($762 million); The First National Bank of Talladega, Talladega, AL ($421 million); First Federal Bank Texas, Tyler, TX ($212 million Ticker: FFBT); Bank of St. Augustine, Saint Augustine, FL ($186 million); The First National Bank of Wamego, Wamego, KS ($159 million); The First National Bank of Hartford, Hartford, IL ($146 million); The First National Bank of Paducah, Paducah, TX ($56 million); and Flint River National Bank, Camilla, GA ($27 million). Flint River was removed from the list on April 20th when the OCC terminated an Formal Agreement, but the removal was inadvertent as they subsequently put the bank under a Consent Order.

Next week, we anticipate the FDIC will release the 2012q1 Official Problem Bank List and its enforcement actions through April 2012.

Earlier:
• Summary for Week Ending May 18th
• Schedule for Week of May 20th

by Calculated Risk on 5/19/2012 06:00:00 PM

We can't directly compare single family housing starts to new home sales. For starts of single family structures, the Census Bureau includes owner built units and units built for rent that are not included in the new home sales report. For an explanation, see from the Census Bureau: Comparing New Home Sales and New Residential Construction

We are often asked why the numbers of new single-family housing units started and completed each month are larger than the number of new homes sold. This is because all new single-family houses are measured as part of the New Residential Construction series (starts and completions), but only those that are built for sale are included in the New Residential Sales series.

However it is possible to compare "Single Family Starts, Built for Sale" to New Home sales on a quarterly basis. The Q1 2012 quarterly report was released this week and showed there were 77,000 single family starts, built for sale, in Q1 2012, and that was below the 83,000 new homes sold for the same quarter (Using Not Seasonally Adjusted data for both starts and sales).

This graph shows the NSA quarterly intent for four start categories since 1975: single family built for sale, owner built (includes contractor built for owner), starts built for rent, and condos built for sale.

Click on graph for larger image.

Single family starts built for sale were up about 17% compared to Q1 2011. Usually Q2 is the strongest quarter seasonally, and single family starts, built for sale, will probably be close to 100 thousand in Q2 - the highest level since 2008.

Owner built starts were up 30% year-over-year from a record low in Q1 2011. And condos built for sale are still near the record low.

The 'units built for rent' has increased significantly and is up about 41% year-over-year.

The second graph shows the difference (quarterly) between single family starts, built for sale and new home sales.

In 2005, and most of 2006, starts were higher than sales, and inventories of new homes increased. In 2008 and 2009, the home builders started far fewer homes than they sold as they worked off the excess inventory they had built up in 2005 and 2006.

For the last 2+ years, the builders have sold a few more homes than they started, and inventory levels are now at record lows. In Q1, builders started 6 thousand fewer homes than they sold.

Note: new home sales are reported when contracts are signed, so it is appropriate to compare sales to starts (as opposed to completions). This is not perfect because of the handling of cancellations, but it does suggest the builders are keeping inventories.

Earlier:
• Summary for Week Ending May 18th
• Schedule for Week of May 20th

by Calculated Risk on 5/19/2012 01:31:00 PM

Earlier:
• Summary for Week Ending May 18th

There are two key housing reports to be released this week: April existing home sales on Tuesday, and April new home sales on Wednesday.

Other key reports include durable goods on Thursday, and two regional manufacturing surveys.

Note: The FDIC might release the Q1 Quarterly Bank Profile this week.

----- Monday, May 21st -----
5:15 AM ET: Atlanta Fed President Dennis Lockhart speaks in Tokyo on monetary policy.

8:30 AM: Chicago Fed National Activity Index (April). This is a composite index of other data.
----- Tuesday, May 22nd -----
10:00 AM: Existing Home Sales for April from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

The consensus is for sales of 4.66 million on seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) basis. Sales in March 2012 were 4.48 million SAAR.

Housing economist Tom Lawler is forecasting the NAR will report sales of 4.53 million in April.

A key will be inventory and months-of-supply.

10:00 AM: Richmond Fed Survey of Manufacturing Activity for May. The consensus is for a decrease to 11 for this survey from 14 in April (above zero is expansion).

----- Wednesday, May 23rd -----
7:00 AM: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) will release the mortgage purchase applications index. This index has been weak this year, although this does not include all the cash buyers.

10:00 AM ET: New Home Sales for April from the Census Bureau.

This graph shows New Home Sales since 1963. The dashed line is the March sales rate.

The consensus is for an increase in sales to 335 thousand Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) in April from 328 thousand in March. This might be a little low based on recent builder comments and reports, and the homebuilder confidence survey. Watch for upward revisions to prior reports.

10:00 AM: FHFA House Price Index for March 2012. This is based on GSE repeat sales and is no longer as closely followed as Case-Shiller (or CoreLogic).

----- Thursday, May 24th -----
8:30 AM: The initial weekly unemployment claims report will be released. The consensus is for claims to be essentially unchanged at 371 thousand compared to 370 thousand last week.

8:30 AM: Durable Goods Orders for April from the Census Bureau. The consensus is for a 0.5% increase in durable goods orders.

10:30 AM: New York Fed President William C. Dudley will speak on the regional economy and participate in a Q&A session with media. The New York Fed might release the Q1 2012 Report on Household Debt and Credit

11:00 AM: Kansas City Fed regional Manufacturing Survey for May. The index was at 3 in April (above zero is expansion).

----- Friday, May 25th -----
9:55 AM: Reuter's/University of Michigan's Consumer sentiment index (final for May). The consensus is for no change from the preliminary reading of 77.8.

SIFMA recommends US markets close at 2:00 PM ET in advance of the Memorial Day Holiday on May 28th.