Job Market Gains Momentum With Fastest Growth Since January 2025 | May 6, 2026

On today’s Hot Sheet, Byron Lazine unpacked U.S. Census Bureau data showing March 2026 new single-family home sales rose 7.4% month over month to a 682,000 annualized pace, while inventory, months’ supply, and home prices all declined.

He also covered U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics JOLTS data showing job openings held steady at 6.9 million as hires increased to 5.6 million, alongside ADP data showing private sector employment grew by 109,000 jobs in April with annual pay up 4.4% year over year.

For today’s fourth and final topic, Byron reviewed Mortgage Bankers Association data showing mortgage applications fell 4.4% for the week ending May 1, 2026, as higher rates pressured both purchase and refinance activity despite purchase demand remaining above last year’s levels.