United States Pending Home Sales Plunge in December to Five Month Low Defying Forecasts
Pending home sales in the United States fell 9.3 percent in December to the lowest level since July. The drop signals weak resales entering the 2026 calendar year.
洞察:
The pending home sales index in the 
US fell by 9.3 percent in December to a reading of 71.8, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on January 21, 2026. This figure marks the lowest level since July and significantly defied the expectations of economists polled by Reuters, who had forecast that contracts would advance by 0.4 percent. On a year-over-year basis, pending home sales dropped 3.0 percent, with contract signings falling across all four geographic regions of the country.
US fell by 9.3 percent in December to a reading of 71.8, according to a report released by the National Association of Realtors on January 21, 2026. This figure marks the lowest level since July and significantly defied the expectations of economists polled by Reuters, who had forecast that contracts would advance by 0.4 percent. On a year-over-year basis, pending home sales dropped 3.0 percent, with contract signings falling across all four geographic regions of the country.Persistent inventory shortages and labor market concerns continue to weigh on the market, despite recent movements in mortgage rates. There were approximately 1.18 million previously owned homes on the market in December, matching the lowest inventory level recorded in 2025. Market activity is also restricted by the fact that roughly 80 percent of current mortgage holders have a rate below 6 percent, reducing the incentive for homeowners to list their properties. This environment has created a challenging landscape for government-sponsored enterprises like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as they navigate shifting demand.
