U.S. Pending Home Sales Jump 7.4% in May, Exceeding Forecasts

U.S. pending home sales surged 7.4% in May, significantly surpassing economists' expectations for a 1.0% increase. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported the sharp rise on June 17, 2026, indicating a rebound in housing market activity. This robust performance follows a revised 7.7% decline in April, initially reported as a 7.2% drop. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun noted that falling mortgage rates and increased housing supply contributed to the unexpected surge. All four major U.S. regions saw month-over-month increases in contract signings. The Northeast led with a 19.5% gain, followed by the Midwest (6.7%), South (6.6%), and West (5.9%), signaling broad-based recovery.