today's data 03-24-10

U.S. homes sales dropped in February, in which the demand for single-family homes decreased 2.2% from January's numbers to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 308,000. This is a new record low, and economists predicted sales to rise 1.9% to 315,000. Additionally, year-over-year sales were lower by 13.0% from February 2009, despite the $8,000 government tax credit for new homeowners.

Also coming in slightly below expectations were durable-goods orders. Defense-related capital goods orders fell 4.5%. However, excluding defense, all other durables goods rose 1.6% in February, after climbing 1.7% during January. Manufacturers' orders for goods designed to last at least three years increased 0.5% to a seasonally adjusted $178.12 billion. This is the third straight month that such orders increased.

(worse than expectation)

美国新屋销售下降了2月，其中单户住宅的需求减少，从1月份的数字2.2％，经季节性调整后按年率计算的308,000。这是一个新的历史新低，和经济学家预计销售额将增长1.9％，至31.5万人。此外，去年销售额同比分别减少13.0％，由2009年2月，尽管政府为8,000元，新的房主税收抵免。

另外，我们稍低于预期的耐用品订单。防务相关资本品订单下降4.5％。然而，除了国防，所有商品的其他耐用品于2月份增加1.6％，1月份上升1.7％。对于可使用至少3年的商品制造商的订单增加了0.5％，经季节调整后一七八一二零零零零零零零美元。这是连续第三个月增加，这样的订单。

（差于预期）