03:06 PM EDT, 05/18/2026 (MT Newswires) -- The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index rose to 37 in May from 34 in April and 34 a year ago.

NAHB said buyers are still facing rising mortgage rates and economic uncertainty, while elevated costs for land, labor and construction are further obstacles to builders.

The New York Federal Reserve's monthly business leaders index, a measure of services conditions, rose to minus 5.8 in May from minus 14.0 in April, indicating a slower pace of contraction. Other services data will be released over the coming weeks.