Houston Business CycleEmployment
Houston Economic Update
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK OF DALLAS, HOUSTON BRANCH
Real Estate
Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, Houston Branch, 1801 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX 77019 For questions or information, email: jesse.thompson@dal.frb.org
Seasonally adjusted nonfarm payrollemployment growth declined to anannualized monthly rate of nearlyzero in March, bringing the three- period-average rate down to 3.9 per-cent. The biggest one-month growthrate (16 percent) and most jobs added(3,400) were observed in the leisureand hospitality industry. The largestone-month decline (an 11.3 percentloss) was observed in financial activi-ties. The greatest year-to-year em- ployment growth in the first quarter came in health services. Despite agrowing labor force, the Houston un-employment rate fell from 7.2 percentthe prior month to 7.1
in March. Witha decrease in labor force participa-tion, the U.S. unemployment rate fellfrom 8.2 in March to 8.1 in April.According to the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas business-cycleindex, economic activity in the Houston metropolitan area grew atan annualized rate of 4.6 percent in March. The global economycontinues to decelerate, but emerging economies are expected toremain primary drivers of demand growth for energy and exports.Furthermore, local real estate markets, save for single family andretail, seem to be shedding the last shadows of the Great Recession.Given strengthening real estate, good energy prices and resilientinternational trade, the outlook for Houston remains positive.
May 2012
Employment Changes
Construction & mining 3.7Manufacturing 5.5Prof. & business services 3.3Trade, transportation, utilities 7.7Leisure & hospitality 9.9Other services
–
0.4Information 2.6Financial activities
–
5.2Government
–
3.0Education & health services 6.5
Figures are three-period-averageannualized monthly growth rates,ordered by descending industrycontribution to fourth quarter 2011year-to-year real wage growth.Data are from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, seasonally adjusted bythe Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
Seasonally adjusted home sales declined an average of 0.9 percentover the three months ending in April, but single-family housingstarts and permits both seem to have entered positive trends.Apartment occupancy was 89 percent in March, and rental rateswere up for all apartment classes over the last year and quarter.Year to year, industrial vacancy rates fell to 5.6 percent in the firstquarter. Office lease rates continue to rise as vacancy rates fall.Financing is still a constraint in all real estate markets, but activitycontinues to improve. 2012 is expected to see the return of specu-lative projects to Houston.
2,4002,4502,5002,5502,6002,6502,700Jan-2008Jan-2009Jan-2010Jan-2011Jan-2012Thousands
Houston Nonfarm Employment*
*Seasonally adjusted.SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
240260280300Jan-2008Jan-2009Jan-2010Jan-2011Jan-2012
Houston Business-Cycle Index*
*Houston metropolitan area;October1980=100.SOURCE: Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas.
02468120130140150160170Jan-08Jan-09Jan-10Jan-11Jan-12SalesPrice
Median Home Price and Home Sales*
Median priceSales
*Seasonally adjusted; units are in thousands.SOURCE: HoustonAssociation of Realtors.
036912Jan-2008Jan-2009Jan-2010Jan-2011Jan-2012Percent
U.S. and Houston Unemployment Rate*
U.S. 8.1Houston 7.1
*Seasonallyadjusted.SOURCE: Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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