Housing slump spurs U.S. building-products layoffs - 2007-01-18
The U.S. housing slowdown has resulted in layoffs at building-products makers and other home-goods companies, and one forecaster expects that these construction-related jobs are not likely to return anytime soon. This month, Black & Decker Corp. said it was eliminating 160 positions at two power tool plants in Tennessee, citing the weak housing market. That was on top of 70 jobs eliminated last year by the company, which manufactures saws and drills used by home builders and other contractors.
Read the full story at Reuters

Condo prices reveal housing trends - 2007-01-18
In attempting to get a read on how much real estate markets are slumping, some people may be looking at the wrong indicator. For the third quarter of 2005, NAR stats for single-family homes show that prices decreased 1.2 percent from a year earlier, with 30 percent of markets showing decreases. Condo prices not only dropped more steeply, 2.1 percent, but 46 percent of markets indicated declines.
Read the full story at CNNMoney.com