The numbers: While home builders are still more upbeat regarding the real-estate market than they were a year ago, shortages of workers and construction material have not let up.
Consequently, the National Association of Home Builders’ monthly confidence index fell one point to a reading of 80 in July, the trade group said Monday.
“Builders are contending with shortages of building materials, buildable lots and skilled labor as well as a challenging regulatory environment,” Robert Dietz, the association’s chief economist, said in the report.
