Laurel Wamsley

NPR's Laura Walmsley. Thank you, Laura. You're welcome.

NPR's Laura Walmsley. Thank you, Laura. You're welcome.

NPR's Laura Walmsley. Thank you, Laura. You're welcome.

Because so many people aren't selling, we're on track for 2024 to have the fewest existing home sales since 1995. That's almost 30 years ago when the country's population was more than 20 percent smaller than it is now.

Because so many people aren't selling, we're on track for 2024 to have the fewest existing home sales since 1995. That's almost 30 years ago when the country's population was more than 20 percent smaller than it is now.

Sales of new single-family homes were more than 9% lower than they were a year ago, according to October data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sales dropped more than 17% from a month earlier. Analysts said sales figures were much lower than expected and showed Hurricanes Helene and Milton taking a large toll in the south.

Sales of new single-family homes were more than 9% lower than they were a year ago, according to October data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Sales dropped more than 17% from a month earlier. Analysts said sales figures were much lower than expected and showed Hurricanes Helene and Milton taking a large toll in the south.

High mortgage rates have hurt affordability, though many large home builders offer buyer incentives to bring down the cost. The median sales price of new houses sold last month was about $437,000. Economists are predicting a small decline in mortgage rates over the next year. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News.

High mortgage rates have hurt affordability, though many large home builders offer buyer incentives to bring down the cost. The median sales price of new houses sold last month was about $437,000. Economists are predicting a small decline in mortgage rates over the next year. Laurel Wamsley, NPR News.

Well, the biggest thing is that Trump is very likely to extend the big tax changes that he pushed through in 2017. That was a pretty sweeping law, and it did lower most people's tax bills. For households that say make $60,000 to $100,000 a year, extending these tax cuts means that those folks get to keep about $1,000 extra dollars a year.

Well, the biggest thing is that Trump is very likely to extend the big tax changes that he pushed through in 2017. That was a pretty sweeping law, and it did lower most people's tax bills. For households that say make $60,000 to $100,000 a year, extending these tax cuts means that those folks get to keep about $1,000 extra dollars a year.

Well, the biggest thing is that Trump is very likely to extend the big tax changes that he pushed through in 2017. That was a pretty sweeping law, and it did lower most people's tax bills. For households that say make $60,000 to $100,000 a year, extending these tax cuts means that those folks get to keep about $1,000 extra dollars a year.

But wealthy people saw the most benefit for those who make more than a million dollars. it means reducing their taxes on average by about $70,000. And there are also big corporate tax cuts as part of that package, too. But all these cuts are expensive. Extending the 2017 law could increase the national debt by more than $4 trillion over the next 10 years. And that really matters.

But wealthy people saw the most benefit for those who make more than a million dollars. it means reducing their taxes on average by about $70,000. And there are also big corporate tax cuts as part of that package, too. But all these cuts are expensive. Extending the 2017 law could increase the national debt by more than $4 trillion over the next 10 years. And that really matters.

But wealthy people saw the most benefit for those who make more than a million dollars. it means reducing their taxes on average by about $70,000. And there are also big corporate tax cuts as part of that package, too. But all these cuts are expensive. Extending the 2017 law could increase the national debt by more than $4 trillion over the next 10 years. And that really matters.

Less tax revenue coming in means cutting government programs, for example.

Less tax revenue coming in means cutting government programs, for example.

Less tax revenue coming in means cutting government programs, for example.

Yeah, this is a tax cut that made big headlines, but it only impacts a small part of the labor market, only about 2.5% of all jobs. And many tipped workers, over a third of them, earn so little that they already don't pay federal income tax. So now there aren't too many details on how exactly all of this would work, but eliminating tax on tips would probably lead to some kind of squirrely effects.

Yeah, this is a tax cut that made big headlines, but it only impacts a small part of the labor market, only about 2.5% of all jobs. And many tipped workers, over a third of them, earn so little that they already don't pay federal income tax. So now there aren't too many details on how exactly all of this would work, but eliminating tax on tips would probably lead to some kind of squirrely effects.