Talking Points …

  • Homebuilder confidence slipped in December, but the sector is poised for consistent growth next year.
  • The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) said Tuesday that sentiment in the market for newly built single-family homes fell 1 point, to 61, on the housing index. Regionally, the three-month averages showed that confidence rose 3 points in the west.
  • The index measuring sales expectations in the next six months fell two points to 67, the component gauging current sales conditions dropped 1 point, to 66, and the index tracking buyer traffic declined 2 points, to 46.