Mark Vitner

Mark Vitner
fairly healthy home level percent sales year
When all is said and done, we should still have a fairly healthy level of new home sales this year -- probably up 4 to 5 percent for the year.
add combined difficult employer existing forces gains health next work year
When combined with the anticipated double-digit gains in employer health-care costs, manufacturers may find it very difficult to add to their payrolls next year and may opt to work their existing work forces longer.
account adjustment came causes data employment gauge hard hiring holiday later might november numbers problem thanksgiving wider year
The problem with the November employment numbers is hiring for the holiday season. It's hard to get a gauge of what it's going to be. They do a seasonal adjustment to the number to account for that, but the seasonal adjustment causes wider swings. And this year Thanksgiving came later in the month, so hiring might have started after the November data was collected.
continues defy demand doom housing quite record remains strong year
It continues to defy all the expectations of doom in the housing market. Demand for housing still remains quite strong and this year will be a record year for single-family construction.
again bursting companies economy economy-and-economics finally growing market moved overall past stock tech year
Overall this year the economy moved past the bursting of the stock market bubble. Tech companies finally started growing again and that's really benefited the Triangle.
below carolina familiar finish hang likely mean near north percent position rate somewhere year
The unemployment rate is likely to hang around 4.5 percent and finish the year somewhere near 4 percent. That would mean that North Carolina would be back in the familiar position of having an unemployment rate below that of the nation.
attracted greater portion
The same thing that has attracted retirees over the years is still there: the weather. You can do more things for a greater portion of the year.
coming expected gain job likely state states
The state is expected to gain 150,000 new residents this year, with two-thirds of the adults likely coming from other states for job opportunities.
awful create labor market mess tight
It would create an awful mess in Florida, where the labor market is tight by any definition.
anecdotal anywhere common common-sense core evidence inflation near
Anecdotal evidence and common sense suggests that core inflation has not been anywhere near this tame.
cause damage flood insurance lack likely recovery tend
Flood damage does not tend to be as insured. The lack of insurance is likely to cause the recovery to be delayed,
above below came gas higher huge interest knock market number prices rates relief rising sign
There was a huge sign of relief when the number came in above 100, and that's why the market rallied, ... There was a thought that the combination of rising interest rates and higher gas prices would knock it below 100.
serious view
We do not view this as anything more serious than a much-needed correction.
america corporate downside eating equivalent far growth healthier hiring means roughly stomach stronger tough
Corporate America is on the mend. The only downside of stronger productivity growth is that it means hiring is lagging. As far as downsides go, this is roughly the equivalent of eating your broccoli. It may be tough to stomach at first, but it makes you stronger and healthier in the long run.