Please enjoy this quick update on what happened this week in the housing and financial markets.

	Factory activity slowed in March, but growth in the manufacturing sector is still going strong. More companies showed signs of expanding than shrinking.
	Tariffs on goods from China continued to dominate the headlines this week. Trade war concerns have helped keep mortgage rates from rising.
	Jobless claims were up on the week, but jobless rolls fell to the lowest level since 1973. A tightening labor market could boost wage growth, leading to inflation.

	Construction spending was up in February after being unchanged in January. Spending on private residential projects increased 0.7%, after falling in January.
	Home buyers are blowing their budgets to snag their dream houses as prices rise. A third of buyers spent an average of $16k more than they planned.
	Rising home prices may keep some out of the market. A recent Freddie Mac survey finds 67% of current renters view renting as more affordable than owning.