The U.S. economy gained 252,000 jobs in December. Nearly 273,000 U.S. residential mortgages returned to positive equity in the third quarter of 2014,

The U.S. apartment market has cooled down somewhat recently. The housing market is showing a steady appreciation in prices. The delinquency rate for U.S. commercial real estate loans in CMBS is now down from December 2013

U.S. office vacancies dropped from 16.8 percent in the third quarter of 2014 to 16.7 percent in the fourth quarter. As crude oil and petroleum product prices ended the year with the largest price drops of all major commodities, among commercial property types, retail stands to benefit the most from a lower cost of energy.

The National Association of Realtors’ Pending Home Sales Index was up 0.8 percent in November month over month. Fannie Mae’s Single-Family Serious Delinquency rate rose 0.01 percent in November month over month.

Recent data points to a continued deceleration in home price appreciation. The Consumer Confidence Index, which had declined in November, improved in December.

Real U.S. gross domestic product increased at an annualized rate of 5 percent in the third quarter of 2014. Sales of new single-family houses nationwide dropped in November by 1.6 percent month over month. Americans’ personal income increased 0.4 percent in November compared with October. Initial unemployment claims decreased by 9,000 from the previous week.

U.S. commercial real estate prices rose in October, supported by various positive trends. The Conference Board reported that its Leading Economic Index for the U.S. increased 0.6 percent in November. During the week ending Dec. 13, unemployment claims dropped by 6,000 from the previous week.

The Fed reaffirms that it would be a “considerable time” before interest rates went up. The rate of inflation and prices increased 0.1 percent in November. The national negative equity rate continued to decline in the third quarter.

U.S. housing starts in November came 1.6 percent below the revised October total. Some 98.6 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more from home during the year-end holiday season, an increase of 4 percent from last year. And U.S. households will spend about $550 less on gasoline and motor oil in 2015 than this year.

The price of crude oil got another downward push over the weekend. Consumer sentiment is now as high as it’s been since January 2007.