Multi-Housing News - May 2009 - (Page 8)

market pulse Commentary and Data Supplied by Dean Crist, Senior Economist, National Association of Home Builders Multifamily Starts 426,000 400,000 350,000 323,000 Units 300,000 250,000 214,000 revised 200,000 150,000 Apr. ’08 May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. ’09 152,000 preliminary Feb. Mar. CPI vs. Rent 5.0% Percentage Change from a Year Ago CPI 3.9% 4.0% 3.0% Rent 3.6% Rent 3.2% preliminary Enter Today 2.0% 1.0% CPI -0.3% preliminary 0 -1.0% Apr. ’08 May June July Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Jan. ’09 Feb. Mar. www.multi-housingnews.com for entry form, fees and more information 16 categories including “transit-oriented” and “unbuilt” Winning projects will be published by Multi-Housing News and honored at the Design Excellence Awards Breakfast at Multi-Housing World Entries due June 30, 2009 For more information, visit www.multi-housingnews.com/productinfo Multifamily Starts: A hefty bounce in February dribbled back down in March to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 152,000 units—about half of what has met the needs of the market in recent years. Even though there is still quite a bit of empty and foreclosed condo and single-family inventory, failure to start new communities is likely to result in a crunch down the road. CPI vs. Rent: The Consumer Price Index (CPI) fell one-tenth of one percent in March—the first time it recorded a decline on a year-over-year basis since 1958. The decline is primarily due to falling food and energy prices. Meanwhile, the rental component of the CPI rose two-tenths of one percent in March, and is up 3.2 percent from March 2008. The decline in the overall CPI while rents continue to rise is a welcome relief to building owners and managers whose margins had been squeezed by the sudden jump in energy prices. To comment, contact Keat Foong at keat.foong@nielsen.com MHN ONLINE For charts and commentary on multifamily starts, apartment vacancies, interest rates and building materials prices, go to www.multi-housingnews.com/marketdata 8 May 2009 | Multi-Housing News | Official Publication of Multi-Housing World http://www.mirrormatecommercial.com http://www.mirrormatecommercial.com http://www.multi-housingnews.com http://www.multi-housingnews.com http://www.multi-housingnews.com/marketdata http://www.multi-housingnews.com/productinfo

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Multi-Housing News - May 2009

Multi-Housing News - May 2009
Contents
From the Editor
Executive Insight: David Picerne
Market Pulse
Investment: A Safer Haven
Finance: Weathering the Risks
Case Study: Industrial Chic
Profile: Green Properties
Technology: Social Media
Renovation Tips
Products: A Touch of Luxury
Perspective: Employee Relations

Multi-Housing News - May 2009