The conventional wisdom on why home sales have stalled is wrong | Bedford Corners Homes

New data has pushed housing to the forefront of the recovery discussion. Can the economy recover without housing? What has gone wrong with it? If housing is de-emphasized as never since the Depression, what does it mean for inequality, the new darling of the Left, and the free-market pleasure of the Right?

Other news, quickly: Orders for durable goods sparkled in March, the 2 percent gain doubling the forecast. U.S. manufacturing is hot. Goody. Maybe 18 percent of GDP. Would you like your college grad to work for GM making stuff, or for Google, which makes nothing? Vladimir the Stupid is in a one-man Mexican standoff.

Merkel spoke for the first time in weeks, accusing Vladimir of “imposing his will with the barrel of a gun and force of a mob.” Much as Germany would like to be an overlarge and changeless Switzerland, I think Vladimir has underestimated European resistance. The threat of imminent conflict creates a steady bid for U.S. Treasurys.

As does deflation in Europe, and an ever-closer endgame in Japan, and above all U.S. housing numbers too painful for many to discuss — and those who have tried have gotten it wrong. March sales of new homes, defined as a purchase contract written on a dwelling any time after the building permit, cratered 14.5 percent.

The financial media, led by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg News, say the problem is home prices rising too fast and higher mortgage rates. Housing is too important to the nation for old grudges to distort reporting this way. Stock market types hate housing and its competition for client investment, and delight in finding fault.

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