Author – The Durango Herald

A surprisingly high number of first-timers now buying homes

WASHINGTON – For years, the U.S. housing market looked bleak for young couples hoping to buy their first homes but struggling with high student debt, low pay and meager down-payment savings....

DATE: Oct 22, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

U.S. retail sales up 0.6 percent, but signs of caution emerge

WASHINGTON – U.S. shoppers stepped up their spending in September, with sharply higher sales at auto dealers, restaurants and gas stations. But the government’s retail sales report released ...

DATE: Oct 14, 2016 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

U.S. home sales down as inventories plummet

WASHINGTON – Americans retreated from home-buying in August, as a worsening inventory shortage appears to be hurting sales and pushing prices higher. Housing has been a bright spo...

DATE: Sep 24, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

U.S. home construction slumped in August

WASHINGTON – Homebuilders pulled back on construction in the South, causing the pace of August housing starts nationwide to fall to their lowest level in three months. Despite the...

DATE: Sep 20, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

U.S. retail sales slump 0.3 percent

WASHINGTON – U.S. shoppers retreated in August, cutting back their spending at auto dealers, furnishers and building material stores to depress overall retail sales after four straight month...

DATE: Sep 15, 2016 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Pending U.S. home sales strengthened in July

WASHINGTON – More Americans signed contracts to purchase homes in July, a sign that demand for home ownership remains strong despite a shortage of listings on the market. The Nati...

DATE: Aug 31, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

U.S. new-home sales climb to best level since late 2007

WASHINGTON – Americans stepped up their purchases of new homes in July to the fastest pace in nearly nine years, the latest sign that low mortgage rates and a solid job market are helping su...

DATE: Aug 23, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

U.S. home construction climbed to a six-month high in July

WASHINGTON – Apartment construction in the Northeast fueled a jump in home building in July as the pace of housing starts nationwide reached the strongest pace in six months. The ...

DATE: Aug 16, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

Requests for U.S. unemployment aid rise to still-low 269,000

WASHINGTON – More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but the number remained close to historic lows in a positive sign for the job market. Applications for job...

DATE: Aug 4, 2016 | CATEGORY: Nation & World

Homeownership rate continues to fall in U.S.

WASHINGTON – The proportion of U.S. households that owns homes has matched its lowest level in 51 years – evidence that rising property prices, high rents and stagnant pay have made it hard ...

DATE: Jul 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

Pending U.S. home sales improved slightly in June

WASHINGTON â€“ The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes crept up in June, a possible indication that the recent growth in real estate sales is still on track. The...

DATE: Jul 27, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business

U.S. new-home sales climbed in June to more than 8-year high

WASHINGTON – Americans bought new homes in June at the fastest pace in more than eight years, a sign that a solid job market and low mortgage rates are bolstering the broader U.S. economy. ...

DATE: Jul 26, 2016 | CATEGORY: Business