Existing Home Sales increased to 5.81 million

Existing-home sales surged for the third straight month in November and reached their strongest pace in almost 11 years, according to the National Association of Realtors. All major regions except for the West saw a significant hike in sales activity last month. Total existing-home sales, jumped 5.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.81 million in November from an upwardly revised 5.50 million in October. After last month’s increase, sales are 3.8 percent higher than a year ago and are at their strongest pace since December 2006 (6.42 million).

U.S. Single-Family Housing Starts Rise to Highest in a Decade

Groundbreaking on single-family homes proceeded in November at the strongest pace in a decade, driving U.S. housing starts to a faster-than-estimated rate, government figures showed Tuesday. Residential starts rose 3.3% to 1.3m annualized rate (est. 1.25m) after 1.26m pace in prior month (revised from 1.29m).

USD - Major events in the week ahead

Events that marked the week:

On Tuesday PPI data was released. The Producer Price Index for final demand increased 0.4 percent in November, seasonally adjusted, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Final demand prices also moved up 0.4 percent in both October and September. On an unadjusted basis, the final demand index rose 3.1 percent for the 12 months ended in November, the largest advance since a 3.1-percent increase for the 12 months ended January 2012.In November, three-fourths of the rise in the final demand index is attributable to a 1.0-percent increase in prices for final demand goods. The index for final demand services climbed 0.2 percent.

US Industrial Production increased by 0.2%

U.S. industrial production rose less than expected in November as a drop in utilities output offset a post-hurricane rebound in the oil and gas industries and the third consecutive monthly advance for manufacturing, the Federal Reserve said on Friday. Overall industrial output rose 0.2 percent following an upwardly revised 1.2 percent gain in October. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast industrial output rising 0.3 percent last month.