U.S. Home-Builder Sentiment Remains Weak as Tariffs Increase Costs

U.S. Home-Builder Sentiment Remains Weak as Tariffs Increase Costs

Confidence among American house builders remained negative again this month as tariffs raise prices of materials and maintain uncertainty, despite a bump in confidence due to retreating mortgage rates in recent weeks. Here are the main takeaways from the National Association of Home Builders' latest report released Wednesday:

--The NAHB Housing Market Index, produced alongside Wells Fargo, inched up to 40 this month from 39 in March. The index is a gauge of builder confidence in the market for single-family housing.

--The rise contrasted with economists' expectations that the index would fall to 37, according to a poll compiled by The Wall Street Journal. However, the index remains below the 50-threshold dividing builders' market perceptions between "good" and "poor."