by Calculated Risk on 10/29/2019 10:08:00 AM

From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Rise 1.5% in September

Pending home sales grew in September, marking two consecutive months of increases, according to the National Association of Realtors. The four major regions were split last month, as the Midwest and South recorded gains but the Northeast and West reported declines in month-over-month contract activity.

The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, rose 1.5% to 108.7 in September. Year-over-year contract signings jumped 3.9%. An index of 100 is equal to the level of contract activity in 2001.
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Regional indices in September were mixed, with the Northeast experiencing the smallest change of the four regions. The PHSI in the Northeast fell 0.4% to 93.9 in September, but is still 1.3% higher than a year ago. In the Midwest, the index increased 3.1% to 104.4 in September, 2.7% higher than September 2018.

Pending home sales in the South increased 2.6% to an index of 127.5 in September, a 5.7% jump from last September. The index in the West declined 1.3% in September 2019 to 95.1, which is an increase of 3.4% from a year ago.
emphasis added

This was above expectations for this index. Note: Contract signings usually lead sales by about 45 to 60 days, so this would usually be for closed sales in October and November.