Unemployment Falls in Houston and Texas Both Houston

Unemployment Falls in Houston and Texas • Both Houston and Texas saw their unemployment rates drop more than a percentage point between January 2013 and January 2014. • The state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell for the sixth consecutive month to 5. 7 percent, down from 6 percent the month before and the lowest since November 2008, according to the latest report from the Texas Workforce Commission (TWC). • All metropolitan rates reported by the TWC are not adjusted for seasonal employment trends. For comparison, the state recorded a 5. 8 percent rate, not adjusted, which is up from 5. 6 in December but down from 7 percent in January 2013. • The Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan statistical area recorded a 5. 6 percent rate, not seasonally adjusted, which is down from 6. 9 percent a year earlier, but up slightly from 5. 5 percent in December. • Both the state’s and the Houston area’s rates remain well below the national unemployment rate, which was 7 percent seasonally adjusted and 6. 6 percent not adjusted.

Weekly HAR Market Stat Extreme winter weather may be partly responsible for sluggish durable goods sales, consumer spending, business inventories and exports. As more income goes toward heating bills, fourwheel alignments, frozen pipes and other winter expenses, there is less (or no) remaining discretionary income. Several southern cities were paralyzed by winter storms, costing the economy billions in lost productivity, while consumers were forced to hunker down for much of the winter in the Midwest and Northeast. Consumers should be more than ready for warmer days ahead. In the Houston region, for the week ending March 2: • New Listings decreased 3. 5% to 2, 282 • Pending Sales increased 19. 5% to 1, 973 • Closed Sales decreased 1. 3% to 1, 848

Have What it Takes to Lead? 2014 Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP) Become a leader today! Due to its overwhelming success, HAR will once again offer the opportunity to take part in an extensive eight-month leadership program. Each session equips REALTOR® members with the tools necessary to grow both personally and professionally. Topics Include: Business Planning ∙ Time Management & Life Balance ∙ Spokesperson Training ∙ Leading Across Difference ∙ Understanding Your Leadership Style ∙ H-Town Day ∙ Team Building (Overnight Retreat) ∙ Law, Legislature & Leadership (Austin bus trip) Applications for the 2014 Texas REALTORS® Leadership Program (TRLP) are now available. Contact Rita Blevins at (713) 629 -1900 ext. 263 or via email at rita@har. com to request an application. Application Deadline: March 21, 2014 Register at www. har. com/edu Questions? 713 -629 -1900 ext. 6