August 21,2020-
Smoke in California heading to Hawaii: PGE forecaster John Lindsey tweets today that the smoke from all the wildfires inundating California is on the way to Hawaii and could reach the islands by Sunday.
Valley dairyman says believes smoke may be helping to cool the cows on his Hanford farm.But cooler weather may be helping drop the temps.Dairyman Joaquin Contente says last night it dropped to 65 – cooler than the high 70s at night seen recently. The warm nights are not allowing the animals or any of us to cool off. Valley counties have declared an emergency for lack of disposal alternatives during the heat wave. The Kings County Ag Commissioner says ”Due to extreme heat and increased demand for processing, Baker Commodities has suspended pickups until a backlog of carcasses can be addressed. Baker Commodities is unavailable to pick-up during this period. The accumulation of carcasses creates a potential for sanitary and safety issues within the County, and the situation requires alternative means for managing the safe disposal of carcasses. This emergency proclamation provide a means for County agencies to designate alternative disposal methods for carcasses until normal services are restored. Rendering services are expected to resume for fresh mortalities on August 21, 2020. “Tulare County declared an emergency as well.
Home sales surge in July in California on pent up demand
California existing, single-family home sales totaled 437,890 in July on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, up 28.8 percent from June and up 6.4 percent from July 2019 the California Association of Realtors reported this week. July’s statewide median home price was $666,320 up 6.4 percent from June and up 9.6 percent from July 2019. But Year-to-date statewide home sales were down 10 percent in July.
July’s sales total climbed above the 400,000 level for the first time since February 2020, before the COVID-19 crisis depressed the housing market, and was the highest level in more than two and a half years. July sales rose 28.8 percent from 339,910 in June and were up 6.4 percent from a year ago, when 411,630 homes were sold on an annualized basis. July marked the first time in five months that home sales posted an annual gain.
“A housing market trifecta of strong pent-up demand, record-low interest rates and a renewed interest in the value of homeownership bolstered July’s home sales,” said 2020 C.A.R. President Jeanne Radsick, a second-generation REALTOR® from Bakersfield, Calif. “With this year’s delayed start of the homebuying season due to the pandemic, we expect home sales to remain robust in August and September, extending the season later than what’s typical.”
In our reading area SLO County sales were up 30% year over year while the median climbed to $659,000 from $625,000 a year ago. InTulare County the median was $268,000 compared to $245,000 a year ago.Sales dropped 1% from year ago. In Kings the median climbed to$275,000 from $254,000 a year earlier. Sales year over year were flat.
Kings/Tulare jobless rates improve
The unemployment rate in Tulare County was 16.2 percent in July 2020, down from a revised 17.1 percent in June 2020, and above the year-ago estimate of 9.9 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 13.7 percent for California and 10.5 percent for the nation during the same period.
Total unemployed in the county was 21,400 with 12,100 of those farm workers. Hospitality and leisure workers unemployed number 1600 and 2700 in health and education.
Kings unemployed numbered 7400 in July 2020, down from 8200 in June but up from 4500 a year earlier.The unemployment rate in Kings County was 13.1 percent in July 2020, down from a revised 14.4 percent in June 2020, and above the year-ago estimate of 7.8 percent. This compares with an unadjusted unemployment rate of 13.7 percent for California and 10.5 percent for the nation during the same period.