Keith Griffith

1 month ago | sfgate.com | Keith Griffith

Perhaps surprisingly, Kentucky’s economy is the most reliant on global trade of any state, with imports accounting for 32% of gross domestic product in the Bluegrass State, and exports making up 16%, according to the report from the National Association of Realtors®. “A trade war instigated by tariffs will lead to less international trade activity, which will disproportionately affect the labor markets of states that are more integrated globally,” says Realtor.com® senior economist Joel Berner.

2 months ago | sfgate.com | Keith Griffith

The share of active listings with price reductions hit 17.5% in March, up from 15% a year ago and a higher share than any March since at least 2016, according to the Realtor.com® economic research team's new monthly trends report. As elevated mortgage rates and affordability concerns continue to sideline many buyers, sellers have had to face up to the reality of a weaker market than they may have preferred, and adjust accordingly.

2 months ago | sfgate.com | Keith Griffith

"Our country and its taxpayers have been ripped off for more than 50 years, but it is not going to happen anymore," Trump said in remarks at the White House's Rose Garden. "With today's action, we are finally going to be able to make America great again, greater than ever before."The new tariffs bring the total tax on goods from China to 54%, the White House said.

2 months ago | sfgate.com | Keith Griffith

Can the Texas grid keep up with demand? But it also has the potential to drive up industrial and residential land prices in the state, and raises questions about whether the state’s energy grid can keep up with demand. Texas is unique among the states in that it has an independent electrical grid with no interconnections to out-of-state providers. The arrangement allows Texas to avoid federal energy regulations, but means the state is on its own to meet demand for electricity.

2 months ago | sfgate.com | Keith Griffith

Stocks reacted positively to the news, with futures for all three major indexes rising in the pre-market after several days of heavy selling driven by concerns over the Trump administration's trade policies. On an annual basis, shelter costs were up 4.2% and remained a major driver of overall inflation. A recent report from Realtor.com® showed that the housing supply gap of 3.8 million homes is an important contributor to higher housing costs.