Initial Jobless Claims at 15 year Low.

Initial Jobless Claims (week ended 1/24/2015)

– New Claims (seasonally adjusted)  265,000. Previous was 308,000
– New Claims unadjusted, totaled 280,237 a decrease of 102,358 from the previous week
– 4-week Moving Average (seasonally adjusted) 298,500.  Previous was 306,750.

The headline weekly adjusted metric is at the lowest level in 15 years.

 

Pending Home Sales Index (December 2014)

– Pending Home Sales Index month/month 100.7. Previous was 104.6.

This is from the National Association of Realtors and measures ratified contracts – a leading indicator of Home Sales. With low interest rates, more folks working and easier lending

standards from the GSE’s this data should be better.  Issues may be that the added jobs do not offer high enough income to qualify and that prices are still too high for many.