Everyday Economics: Housing leads as New Year begins

(The Center Square) – As we step into a new year, housing data takes center stage. After the Christmas holiday, markets are shifting from reflection to recalibration – and this week’s housing releases will help set the tone for 2026. On the official calendar, we’ll get updates from the National Association of Realtors on pending home sales, alongside the latest Case-Shiller Home Price Index. These reports provide valuable signals, but they also arrive with a lag. Fortunately, the housing market doesn’t require guesswork heading into the new year. For a more timely view of where housing demand and prices are headed, look no further than the Zillow Housing Market Report, released nearly two weeks ahead of the traditional data. It offers an early read on trends that will shape the official releases — and the broader housing outlook for 2026. Seasonality Finally Returns November marked an important turning point. After an unseasonably active fall, seasonal cooling finally began to seep bac