FYI
Business outlook
-- Casual Living, 10/1/2009 12:00:00 AM
Briefly.....
Though cooler weather is on the horizon, many consumers still want to take advantage of their outdoor spaces. Hearth products are helping consumers to extend their outdoor seasons to year-round outdoor living.
According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, 1.9 million hearth products were shipped across the U.S. last year. And, more than three-fifths of consumers cited a fire pit/fireplace as a feature they would want to have for their ideal home resort per Casual Living and HGTV’s exclusive 2009 Outdoor Spaces Survey. Retailers who provide the hearth products consumers want may be able to fire up their sales this fall season.
Consumer credit outstanding
Percent change at annual rate
Seasonally adjusted
| 2008 | 2009 | ||||||
| Q3r | Q4r | Q1r | Q2r | Mayr | Juner | Julyp | |
| r = revised; p = preliminary | |||||||
| Total | 0.6% | -3.0% | -3.7% | -6.6% | -4.2% | -7.4% | -10.4% |
| Revolving | 3.3 | -7.3 | -9.6 | -9.7 | -12.1 | -6.4 | -8.0 |
| Nonrevolving | -1.0 | -0.4 | -0.2 | -4.8 | 0.4 | -8.0 | -11.7 |
Covers most short- and intermediate-term credit extended to individuals, excluding loans secured by real estate.
Nonrevolving credit includes automobile loans and all other loans not included in revolving credit, such as loans for mobile homes, education, boats, trailers or vacations. These loans may be secured or unsecured.
Source: Federal Reserve
Housing
Unit numbers in thousands
Seasonally adjusted annual rate
| Permits | United States | Northeast | Midwest | South | West |
| July ’09 numbers are preliminary Source: Bureau of the Census and National Assn. of Realtors |
|||||
| July ’09 | 560 | 55 | 105 | 277 | 123 |
| Change from July ’08 | -39.4% | -45.0% | -27.6% | -42.7% | -37.2% |
| Starts | |||||
| July ’09 | 581 | 67 | 114 | 276 | 124 |
| Change from July ’08 | -37.7% | -58.6% | -25.5% | -36.7% | -31.9% |
| New home sales | |||||
| July ’09 | 433 | 45 | 61 | 222 | 105 |
| Change from July ’08 | -13.4% | 9.8% | -4.7% | -18.4% | -14.6% |
| Existing home sales | |||||
| July ’09 | 5,240 | 930 | 1,220 | 1,950 | 1,130 |
| Change from July ’08 | 5.0% | 3.3% | 8.0% | 5.4% | 1.8% |
We would love your feedback!
Featured Company
-
Wright Labels
Bill and Tom Wright founded Wright of Thomasville in 1961 on the idea that printing was a creative medium and the belief that "a promise made is a promise kept." The Wright brothers focused their attention on providing exceptional printing for the... more
VIEW ALL GALLERIES
