The National Association of Realtors reported that sales of existing homes decreased (-1.9%) in April to a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 4.14M, and down the same (-1.9%) as compared to May 2023. All four US regions reported sales declines. Sales of single-family homes declined (-2.1%) to a 3.82M annual rate (-1.3% Y/Y) and existing condo sales were unchanged at a 400K annual rate (-7.0% Y/Y). Total housing inventory reported up (+9.0%) to 1.21M (+16.3% Y/Y). Properties typically remained on the market for 26 days, down from 33 days in March. Unsold inventory climbed (+9.0%) to a 3.5 month run rate, up from 3.2 months in March. The median existing-home price for all housing increased (+5.7%) year over year. All four U.S. regions registered price gains.

The S&P Global Flash US PMI Composite Output Index, which measures activity in the manufacturing and services sectors, jumped to 54.4 (a 25-month high) in May from 51.3 the previous month . Both the manufacturing and service sectors accelerated their expansion, with the majority of the gains in the composite index coming from the service sector. The US Services Business Activity Index increased to 54.8 (a 12-month high) in May, up from 54.2 in April. The US Manufacturing PMI increased to 50.9 (the third-highest value over the past 20 months) from 50.0 in the previous month. When these indicators have a reading above 50 the sector is expanding. The expansion was accompanied by an increase in input costs as input prices registered their second-largest monthly increase in the past eight months.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that new orders for manufactured durable rose (+0.7%) to a seasonally adjusted $284.1 billion in April, this follows a (+0.8%) increase the previous month. Much of the increase came from the defense sector which rose (+15.2%) and transportation equipment which increased (+1.2%). Excluding transportation, new orders were up (+0.4%). Excluding defense, new orders were flat. Shipments of manufactured durable goods increased (+1.2%), up from (+0.1%) the previous month. Core capital goods orders, which exclude the volatile aircraft and defense orders increased (+0.3%), this followed an upwardly revised (-0.1%) reading for March. Core durable goods shipments increased (+0.4%), up from a (-0.3%) reading the previous month.