Building Products And Materials Insights - Q1 2018

Low mortgage rates, strong consumer confidence and a healthy economy with rising wages continued to drive buyer demand throughout 2017, with sales reaching their highest annual pace since 2007. Robust sales activity drove the supply of existing homes to a 17-year low, while housing prices reached a record high. Building permits and housing starts increased 4.7% and 2.4%, respectively, with single-family home activity continuing to outpace multifamily. In the second half of 2017, 106 M&A transactions were completed, a 35.9% increase from the first half of the year, but a slight decrease from the same period a year ago. Read the report for more detail on housing trends, public market performance and deal activity.