Home sales and days on the market in Boston also both declined.

Meanwhile, housing starts are up and homes are staying on the market for fewer days than this time last year.

Although inventory and existing-home sales remain down, housing starts were up in March. Additionally, the days on the market shrunk to 14 days.

Housing starts, existing home sales inventory took a tumble as well in February.

Nationally, pending home sales fell as interest rates rose last month.

Nationally, interest rates rose as builder confidence fell.

At the same time, days on market fell to 26 from 31 as housing starts grew

Builder confidence was also down from a year ago.

Housing inventory fell in Boston during August, while housing starts and existing-home sales rose.

Housing inventory also saw an increase from year-ago levels last month.

Housing inventory in the Boston area, meanwhile, remained below year-ago levels in April.

This month’s Boston Agent Housing Scorecard would have been positive across the board had it not been for continued high unemployment and a shortage of housing inventory. See how the economic indicators looked, both locally and nationally, in this month’s report.