Housing trends: a lively start leads to a strong year. (Market Measure 2003).

Do-It-Yourself Retailing, November, 2002 by Carleton, Jesse

For much of this year, the housing market seemed to be a train moving at breakneck speed. And although some analysts figure the housing train will run out of steam any time now, most agree that it is more likely to find a comfortable pace and continue its yeoman's chore of pulling along an otherwise unmotivated economy.

During the later part of 2001, the housing market slowed as did the entire nation after the events of Sept. 11. After this brief respite, the housing market was back up to speed before year's end posting an all-time high of 5.3 minion existing single-family units sold, coupled with a 3.5 percent increase in the number of new home sales. That provided an optimistic start to the new year.

With the end of 2002 still a month away, the...

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