With Covid encouraging city-dwellers to emigrate to the suburbs and families looking for home offices and bigger yards, prices for the American dream home have skyrocketed. Home prices surged in March 2021 up 13% from the year prior, according to the S&P Case-Shiller index. With homeowners unwilling to sell, a record-low supply of homes for sale has forced buyers into intense bidding wars. At the end of April 2021 there were only 1.16 million houses for sale in the U.S. down more than 20.5% from the year prior. Higher costs for land, labor and building materials including lumber have also impacted homebuilders. With the 30-year fixed mortgage rate hovering near a 50-year low and strong demand pushing prices to all-time highs, why is the housing supply so meager? Watch the video to find out if the U.S. is running out of houses.
Category Archives: Analysis
Political Analysis: Tamara Keith & Amy Walter On Infrastructure Bill (PBS)
NPR’s Tamara Keith and Amy Walter of the Cook Political Report join Judy Woodruff to discuss the latest political news, including bipartisanship on infrastructure, a commission to investigate the January 6 insurrection and efforts across the country to audit votes from the 2020 election.
Insects: How Cicadas Create So Much Noise
Why are cicadas so freakin’ loud? Entomologist Samuel Ramsey has the answers. Dr. Sammy explains why it’s so important for cicadas to gather in large groups and make lots of noise.
Analysis: The Job Market That Awaits 2021 Grads
The labor market is red-hot again after more than a year on ice. The class of 2021 college graduates are looking at a new jobs landscape, but the competition is fierce. What should new grads expect from the job market and the job hunting process? Photo: Hoang ‘Leon’ Nguyen/The Republican via AP
Analysis: Race In America, Green Investment Boom, Nato Soldiers’ Phones
A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week: race in America, the green investment boom (10:00), and why NATO increasingly sees its soldiers’ phones as a liability (21:50).
Vaccine Passports: Legal & Medical Issues Are Raised
The CDC says fully vaccinated Americans can resume many normal activities but should people have to prove they have gotten those shots? Brook Silva-Braga reports on the pros and cons of so-called “vaccine passports” and the medical and legal issues raised.
Analysis: The Future Of Driverless Vehicles (WSJ)
While Tesla and others already offer assisted-driving features, startups Waymo, Cruise, TuSimple and Aurora are betting their autonomous vehicles will make driving a thing of the past. WSJ asked them about safety and other challenges they face. Photo composite: George Downs
Analysis: How India’s Covid Crisis Got Out Of Control
India’s Covid-19 crisis has resulted in record numbers of cases and deaths. WSJ breaks down the chain of events that led to the fastest-growing wave of infection since the pandemic started, and what it means for the world. Photo: Samuel Rajkumar/Reuters
Analysis: ‘Old Dynamics’ In Israel-Hamas Conflict
As international calls for a cease-fire grow and Gaza death tolls rise, there seems to be no clear end in sight. WSJ’s Gerald F. Seib explains why this recent outbreak may be a sign that the old dynamics are still in place in the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestinians. Photo illustration: Todd Johnson
Analysis: Colonial Pipeline Cyberattack Explained
A cyberattack on the U.S.’s largest fuel pipeline on May 7 forced a shutdown that triggered a spike in gas prices and shortages in parts of the Southeast. WSJ explains just how vulnerable the nation’s critical energy infrastructure is to attack. Photo illustration: Liz Ornitz/WSJ
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