Housing data also encompasses economics, politics, sociology, geography, labor markets and more. Even the largest transaction most people will ever make is susceptible to the same kinds of market forces that affect clothing choices at your favorite department store, the cost of your vacation, public transportation projects and where the next Starbucks is placed (or closed). Be watching the jobs numbers, fuel prices and election results. And keep using the best source of housing data around: your local MLS.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending May 4:

• New Listings increased 10.7% to 1,825
• Pending Sales increased 17.2% to 1,404
• Inventory decreased 28.0% to 13,361

For the month of April:

• Median Sales Price increased 12.0% to $182,000
• Days on Market decreased 28.1% to 97
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 2.7% to 95.9%
• Months Supply of Inventory decreased 38.0% to 3.1

Click here for the full Weekly Market Activity Report.From The Skinny.