(function() { (function(){function b(g){this.t={};this.tick=function(h,m,f){var n=f!=void 0?f:(new Date).getTime();this.t[h]=[n,m];if(f==void 0)try{window.console.timeStamp("CSI/"+h)}catch(q){}};this.getStartTickTime=function(){return this.t.start[0]};this.tick("start",null,g)}var a;if(window.performance)var e=(a=window.performance.timing)&&a.responseStart;var p=e>0?new b(e):new b;window.jstiming={Timer:b,load:p};if(a){var c=a.navigationStart;c>0&&e>=c&&(window.jstiming.srt=e-c)}if(a){var d=window.jstiming.load; c>0&&e>=c&&(d.tick("_wtsrt",void 0,c),d.tick("wtsrt_","_wtsrt",e),d.tick("tbsd_","wtsrt_"))}try{a=null,window.chrome&&window.chrome.csi&&(a=Math.floor(window.chrome.csi().pageT),d&&c>0&&(d.tick("_tbnd",void 0,window.chrome.csi().startE),d.tick("tbnd_","_tbnd",c))),a==null&&window.gtbExternal&&(a=window.gtbExternal.pageT()),a==null&&window.external&&(a=window.external.pageT,d&&c>0&&(d.tick("_tbnd",void 0,window.external.startE),d.tick("tbnd_","_tbnd",c))),a&&(window.jstiming.pt=a)}catch(g){}})();window.tickAboveFold=function(b){var a=0;if(b.offsetParent){do a+=b.offsetTop;while(b=b.offsetParent)}b=a;b<=750&&window.jstiming.load.tick("aft")};var k=!1;function l(){k||(k=!0,window.jstiming.load.tick("firstScrollTime"))}window.addEventListener?window.addEventListener("scroll",l,!1):window.attachEvent("onscroll",l); })(); '; $bloggerarchive='
  • January 2006
  • February 2006
  • March 2006
  • April 2006
  • May 2006
  • June 2006
  • July 2006
  • August 2006
  • September 2006
  • October 2006
  • November 2006
  • December 2006
  • January 2007
  • February 2007
  • March 2007
  • April 2007
  • May 2007
  • June 2007
  • July 2007
  • August 2007
  • September 2007
  • October 2007
  • November 2007
  • December 2007
  • January 2008
  • February 2008
  • March 2008
  • April 2008
  • May 2008
  • June 2008
  • July 2008
  • August 2008
  • September 2008
  • October 2008
  • November 2008
  • December 2008
  • January 2009
  • February 2009
  • March 2009
  • April 2009
  • May 2009
  • June 2009
  • July 2009
  • August 2009
  • September 2009
  • October 2009
  • November 2009
  • December 2009
  • January 2010
  • February 2010
  • March 2010
  • April 2010
  • May 2010
  • '; ini_set("include_path", "/usr/www/users/dollarsa/"); include("inc/header.php"); ?>
    D and S Blog image



    Subscribe to Dollars & Sense magazine.

    Subscribe to the D&S blog»

    Recent articles related to the financial crisis.

    Friday, August 21, 2009

     

    Today's Indicators

    by Dollars and Sense

    U.S. July existing home sales pace fastest in two years. But, as this Bloomberg article says, "The number of previously-owned unsold homes on the market jumped 7.3 percent to 4.09 million in July, a "notable" increase, according to Lawrence Yun, the Realtors' chief economist. At the current sales pace, it would take 9.4 months to sell those houses, the same as in June." And much of this is foreclosure-driven.

    Also, oil prices have reached their higheest leevels this year. As more and more people argue that the old relationship between risk and the US dollar (more risky investing means a lower dollar) is breaking down, it's interesting to see some commodities (which gain on dollar weakness) maintaining this movement.

    Meanwhile, more worries (courtesy of Economist's View) on commercial property. This, as well as the fact that prime lending is now failing at a greater rate than subprime, and will continue to do so as unemployment remains very high, must be considered when evaluating the state of the property market. There's a real chance that a dive in prime home lending or commercial property lending--or both--may take the whole sector back down, and with it, prospects for economic recovery.

    Labels: , , , , , ,

     

    Please consider donating to Dollars & Sense and/or subscribing to the magazine (both print and e-subscriptions now available!).
    8/21/2009 09:21:00 AM