Today the Census Bureau said (http://www.census.gov/const/newresconst.pdf ) that work began on 550,000 housing units in December. The chart below reveals that is a post-WWII record low.
Housing Starts
(Click on chart to enlarge)
(Recessions shaded)
Worse yet, this is a 101,000 drop from November’s 651,000 total. That’s a huge decline and seems to say we may not have hit bottom.
But when will that happen?
And how many more of these record lows – spread out over a variety of indicators – can we stand?
Could we be headed for a depression?
The economic stimulus package better be enacted – and begin stimulating – real soon.
Worse yet, this is a 101,000 drop from November’s 651,000 total. That’s a huge decline and seems to say we may not have hit bottom.
But when will that happen?
And how many more of these record lows – spread out over a variety of indicators – can we stand?
Could we be headed for a depression?
The economic stimulus package better be enacted – and begin stimulating – real soon.
(The chart was taken from http://www.beyourowneconomist.com. [Click on Seminars and then Charts.] Go there for additional charts on the economy and a list of economic indicators.)
© 2009 Michael B. Lehmann
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