Live data
Live Housing Data
A daily-refreshed view of the public economic and legislative data most relevant to housing affordability. Every figure links back to its original public source. The Affordable Housing Initiative is an independent publication and is not affiliated with any of these sources.
The numbers
Economic indicators
Last updated July 18, 2026.
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30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States
6.55
▲ +0.06 (up)
Percent · as of July 16, 2026
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S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index
332.678
▲ +2.55 (up)
Index Jan 2000=100 · as of April 1, 2026
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New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units
1427
▲ +228.00 (up)
Thousands of Units · as of June 1, 2026
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Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States
403200
▼ -9100.00 (down)
Dollars · as of January 1, 2026
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Unemployment Rate
4.2
▼ -0.10 (down)
Percent · as of June 1, 2026
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Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average
332.568
▼ -1.41 (down)
Index 1982-1984=100 · as of June 1, 2026
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Federal Funds Effective Rate
3.63
▬ 0.00 (no change)
Percent · as of June 1, 2026
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Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States
7.3
▲ +0.10 (up)
Percent · as of January 1, 2026
| Indicator | Latest | Change | Units | As of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States | 6.55 | ▲ +0.06 (up) | Percent | July 16, 2026 |
| S&P Cotality Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index | 332.678 | ▲ +2.55 (up) | Index Jan 2000=100 | April 1, 2026 |
| New Privately-Owned Housing Units Started: Total Units | 1427 | ▲ +228.00 (up) | Thousands of Units | June 1, 2026 |
| Median Sales Price of Houses Sold for the United States | 403200 | ▼ -9100.00 (down) | Dollars | January 1, 2026 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.2 | ▼ -0.10 (down) | Percent | June 1, 2026 |
| Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: All Items in U.S. City Average | 332.568 | ▼ -1.41 (down) | Index 1982-1984=100 | June 1, 2026 |
| Federal Funds Effective Rate | 3.63 | ▬ 0.00 (flat) | Percent | June 1, 2026 |
| Rental Vacancy Rate in the United States | 7.3 | ▲ +0.10 (up) | Percent | January 1, 2026 |
Source: FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. Data retrieved via the FRED® API but not endorsed or certified by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. fred.stlouisfed.org
On the Hill
Housing-related legislation
Last updated July 18, 2026.
| Bill | Title | Latest action | Date | Policy area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| HRES 19 | Providing the sense of the House of Representatives that the House should not adjourn until the annual appropriation bills within the jurisdiction of all the subcommittees of the Committee on Appropriations for the current fiscal year are enacted into law. | Referred to the House Committee on Appropriations. | January 7, 2025 | |
| HJRES 21 | Disapproving of the rule submitted by the Department of Homeland Security relating to "Modernizing H-2 Program Requirements, Oversight, and Worker Protections". | Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. | January 16, 2025 | |
| HRES 57 | Recognizing the benefits of natural gas to the United States economy and environment, and recognizing natural gas as an affordable and "green" energy. | Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Natural Resources, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned. | January 23, 2025 |
Source: Congress.gov (U.S. Government work, public domain). congress.gov
Live feed
Latest housing & economy news
Last updated July 18, 2026.
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In first Congressional testimony, new Fed Chief Warsh vows to fight inflation
Kevin Warsh testified before the Senate Banking Committee for the first time Wednesday since taking over as chairman of the Federal Reserve. Warsh pledged to bring inflation under control.
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Inflation cools more than expected in June as gas costs fall and underlying prices ease
Tuesday's report likely reduces pressure on the Fed to boost its short-term interest rate to combat inflation.
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WATCH: Fed chair Kevin Warsh testifies on inflation and monetary policy in House hearing
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh said Tuesday that the Fed will make high inflation "a thing of the past," yet he provided no signal about the central bank's next steps.
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Inflation eased in June, but Americans still feel pressure from high prices
A report shows inflation eased more than expected in June. It's welcome news for President Trump, who has made lowering prices a focus of his economic agenda. But months of higher-than-expected inflation have continued to squeeze many households and raised questions about when consumers will feel relief. Liz Landers re
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U.S. home prices hit an all-time high as sales slow and mortgage rates rise
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slowed in June, but a key measure of home prices climbed to an all-time high, adding to prospective homebuyers' affordability challenges.
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David Crowley set to rejoin Wisconsin governor’s race after lieutenant governor exit
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley will rejoin the Democratic primary race for Wisconsin governor following the sudden exit of Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Sara Rodriguez (D), who ended her bid on Friday over an ongoing scandal related to campaign finance errors. Crowley teased on social media that a “big announcement” wou
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Trump administration races to rebuild tariff wall knocked down by Supreme Court
The U.S. Treasury last year swelled with revenue from President Donald Trump's double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country on earth. But the money dried up after the Supreme Court struck down the biggest and boldest of Trump's tariffs in February. The question now is: Can the president's trade team make goo
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Following your aquarium fish back to its home in the Amazon
We trace the origins of the popular aquarium fish the cardinal tetra back to the Amazon to see how even the most remote corners of the world are transformed by the global economy.
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Lettuce supplied to Taco Bell in 5 states confirmed as a source of diarrhea-causing parasite
A Food and Drug Administration investigation so far has identified a single supplier of the lettuce. The federal warnings to consumers did not identify the company, but Taylor Fresh Foods, of Salinas, California, said FDA testing indicated it was "a specific independent farm" affiliated with the company.
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Federal Reserve looks for 'secret sauce' behind a successful Wisconsin toolmaker
Business is booming for Snap-on, a Wisconsin company that has made tools for professional mechanics for more than a century. It recently got a fact-finding visit from the head of the Chicago Federal Reserve Bank.
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China's economy grows 4.3% in Q2, slowest since late 2022
Lagging consumer spending and business investment offset the boost from strong exports thanks partly to the boom in artificial intelligence.
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What a Monopoly importer learned when it tried to make things in the U.S.A.
After getting hit with a steep tariff bill for the imported board games he sells, Jonathan Silva wanted to see if he could produce a version of his Monopoly game in the United States.
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Massive data center buildout poses latest inflation threat for consumers
Investment in data centers has made memory chips, computer processors and other equipment, as well as electricity, more expensive.
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Inflation slowed sharply -- but it may not last
Annual inflation hit 3.5% in June, down from May's more than three-year high — but the resumption of the conflict with Iran threaten to push up inflation as energy costs once again spike.
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Inflation has been creeping up. How are Americans coping?
NPR's Scott Detrow speaks with three people about how they're feeling the effects of inflation: Jennifer Browning, Alex Garcia and Chuck Lockhart.
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What a Monopoly importer learned when it tried to make things in the U.S.A.
After getting hit with tariffs for the imported board games he sells, Jonathan Silva decided to see if he could produce a version of his Monopoly game in the United States. This is what he learned.