United States Census Bureau
Economy Watch Weekly: Consumers Go Shopping in July
Economy Editor Dees Stribling discusses the surprising boost in retail sales for the month, and which categories fared better than others.
Economy Watch: Internet Sales Keep Climbing
By D.C. Stribling Since the dawn of Internet commerce, seasonally adjusted sales using that platform have moved in one direction: up. That trend continued in the second quarter, the Census Bureau reported on Thursday, with U.S. retail e-commerce sales up 4.8 percent compared with the first quarter. (Unadjusted Internet sales tend to bottom out in the first quarter and peak in the fourth, like all retail sales.) Year-Over-Year Jump As usual, the bureau adjusts for seasonal variation, but not for price changes, which have been fairly modest in recent years. Altogether, second-quarter Internet sales totaled $111.5 billion. That’s also a 16.2…
Economy Watch: Retail Sales Enjoy Healthy Gain
Consumers appear to be in a buying mood this summer, as last month’s sales jumped 4.2 percent ahead of July 2016, the Census Bureau reported.
Economy Watch: Construction Spending Edges Down in June
Private and public spending both decreased in June, with all property types seeing a decline aside from office construction, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest report.
Bloomfield Capital Funds Retail Loan
A Nashville, Tenn., real estate development firm sponsored a $3.2 million senior bridge loan for the refinance and renovation of a 30,000-square-foot retail center in greater Nashville.
Economy Watch Weekly: Winning and Losing Retailers in June
Economy Editor Dees Stribling discusses the retail categories that saw a decline in sales for the month, mostly consisting of those that face competition from the Internet.
Economy Watch: Retail Sales Edge Down in June
Most retail categories lost a bit in sales for the month, with a few dropping more than a little, according to the Census Bureau. Department stores, sporting goods, and grocery stores were among the retail sectors with declining sales.
Economy Watch Weekly: The Nation’s Aging Population
The median age of the U.S. population rose by more than two years from April 2000 to July 2016, according to recent Census Bureau estimates. Economy Editor Dees Stribling discusses the aging population’s impact on the real estate industry.
Economy Watch: Construction Spending Flat in May
Residential construction was up 0.5 percent and non-residential construction was down 0.3 percent, leading total construction to remain flat for the month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Compared to May 2016, however, all major nonresidential construction categories enjoyed increased spending.
Economy Watch: U.S. Population Still Graying
The median age of the U.S. population rose from 35.3 years in April 2000 to 37.9 years in July 2016, according to new Census Bureau population estimates. A shift that will affect demand for retail and residential real estate.