- Real GDP increased at an annual rate of 2.5% in the first quarter of 2013, after increasing at 0.4% in the previous quarter. The price index for gross domestic purchases increased 1.1% in the first quarter, compared to an increase of 1.6% in the previous quarter.
- Personal income and personal consumption expenditures both increased 0.2% in March. The price index for personal consumption expenditures decreased 0.1% in March, while the core index held steady. The price index (headline index) was up 1.0% from March 2012, while the core index was up 1.1%.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods decreased 5.7% in March, while shipments increased 0.4%.
- March existing home sales decreased 0.6% to an annualized rate of 4,920 thousand units. The median sales price of existing houses sold was $184.3 thousand, 11.8% above March 2012.
- March new home sales increased 1.5% to an annualized rate of 417 thousand units. The median sales price of new houses sold was $247.0 thousand, 3.0% above March 2012.
- The Pending Home Sales Index increased 1.5% to a reading of 105.7 in March, according to the National Association of Realtors. The index was 7.0% above March 2012 level.
- U.S. House prices rose 0.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from January to February, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA). For the 12 months ending in February, U.S. prices rose 7.1%. The index is now 13.6% below its April 2007 peak and is roughly the same as the October 2004 level.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates moving lower for the fourth consecutive week and continuing to support the ongoing housing recovery.
- Mortgage applications increased 0.2% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending April 19th.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 16 thousand to 339 thousand in the week ending April 20.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment for April dropped to 76.4.
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