3/9/09

Canada - Housing Starts

Actual135.00K|Forecast144.00K|Previous154.00K

Determines the annualized level of new residential buildings that began construction during the last month. A high level of housing activity signals that the construction industry is healthy and that consumers have the capital to make large investments. More importantly, new housing activity creates an economic ripple effect as home owners buy goods such as appliances and furniture for their homes, and builders buy raw materials and hire more employees to meet demand. An upward trend has a positive effect on the country's currency as the housing market is a leading gauge for the overall economy.


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UK - RICS House Prices Index

Actual-|Forecast-75.80%|Previous-76.30%



The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) House Price Balance determines the price change of homes in the UK. For instance, a reading of 50% means that 50% more surveyors reported a rise than reported a fall in prices. This leading indicator represents the percentage of chartered surveyors reporting a price rise in their designated area.