For the past several months, dealer stocks have been about 25% thinner than normal, requiring many buyers to order their cars and wait a few weeks. Industry executives are finding that stocking fewer cars amid high demand has lifted profits for both car companies and dealerships. Reducing the mass of sheet metal could change dealer-owned real estate and how car companies run their factories.

The spring shutdowns created a strain for auto makers to boost output resulting in an inventory crunch. Car companies have since been giving priority to their most popular models and feature combinations, which has reduced complexity and cut supply-chain costs. Dealers are saving money by holding less inventory, and cars are selling faster, at higher average prices.

wsj.com

Pending home sales fell 1.1% month to month in October but were 20.2% higher compared to October 2019. Mortgage rates are still hovering near historic lows, but the supply of homes for sale is also historically low. At the end of October, homes for sale represented just a 2.7-month supply at the current sales pace while a six-month supply is considered a balanced market. Existing home prices are jumping as the growing imbalance is causing bidding wars.

cnbc.com