Dive Brief:

• Of the 350 metropolitan-area markets in the United States, home-building conditions are at or above pre-recession levels in 59, according to the latest Leading Market Index from the National Association of Home Builders and First American Title Insurance Co.
• Nationally, the index stands at 0.88 this month, which means that the country is at 88% of normal economic and housing activity.
• The index uses 2000-2003 as a base period for comparing the number of single-family home building permits being issued and the price of houses, and 2007 is the comparison year for employment in an area.

Dive Insight:

The NAHB's chief economist, David Crowe, said he thinks the important aspect of the April index is that areas being driven by the domestic energy boom are making progress. "The job market continues to mend and with that we will see a steady release of pent up demand of buyers,” Crowe said in NAHB's announcement of the findings.