American Honda Reports April Sales with Record for Honda Trucks

May 3, 2017

The Honda CR-V led the brand's truck gains with an April record of 32,671 vehicles, up 13 percent.

TORRANCE, California, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — American Honda Motor Co., Inc. today reported April sales of 138,386 Honda and Acura vehicles, a decrease of 7.0 percent from year-ago results. The Honda Division saw a decrease of 6.3 percent on sales of 124,254 vehicles, while Honda trucks were up year-over-year, posting a 1.2 percent gain on sales of 61,114 units. Acura Division sales of 14,132 cars and SUVs were up from last month and were led by the TLX sedan with a 39.1 percent jump in April versus year-ago results.

Honda
With strong truck sales and sustained, steady demand for cars continuing in April, Honda Division sales grew 1.2 percent for the first four months of 2017. The Honda CR-V and HR-V continued their record-setting ways, both posting record April sales, as the Ridgeline pickup also posted solid April results of 3,186 units, and Pilot continued to experience strong demand in the face of constrained supplies.

Despite the market shift toward SUVs, Honda saw continued strong retail demand for cars, with Fit recording sales of 4,871 units, Accord posting sales of 26,938 units, and Civic again topping the 31,000 mark, with virtually all sales coming from individual, retail car buyers.

Honda trucks had a best-ever April, gaining 1.2 percent on sales of 61,114 units

CR-V led truck gains with an April record of 32,671 vehicles, up 13 percent
HR-V set a new April record, rising 22.4 percent on sales of 8,527
Ridgeline sales surpassed 3,100 units in April

With another strong sales month of 31,211 units, Civic was easily the best-selling passenger car in America on a retail basis for the first four months of 2017
Clarity Fuel Cell posted 34 sales for the month, pushing total deliveries to 126 units

“While there seems no end in sight to consumers’ love affair with trucks and SUVs, we continue to keep a focus on passenger cars to maintain a balanced sales mix in the retail marketplace,” said Jeff Conrad, senior vice president of the American Honda Automobile Division. “Our efforts to build more Honda light trucks at our plants in North America are paying dividends with sales records for both CR-V and HR-V.”

Acura
Acura division sales of 14,132 units were led by TLX, which posted its best month since October 2015 on sales of 5,258 units, up 39.1 percent from last April, following a strong first-quarter marketing campaign. Next month TLX will receive an additional boost with the launch of the significantly redesigned 2018 model, with three distinct variants including a new V6-powered A-Spec model, adding aggressive new styling to the performance luxury sedan.

TLX recorded its best-ever April and second best month ever on sales of 5,258 units, up 39.1 percent over last year
Acura light truck sales remained strong with MDX and RDX combining for sales of over 7,845 units, with the launch of the new 2017 MDX Sport Hybrid expected to boost sales in the months ahead.

“We’re seeing our new marketing efforts resonate with buyers with TLX posting strong sales in a tough segment,” said Jon Ikeda, vice president & general manager of Acura. “With the new 2018 TLX launching next month, including the all-new A-Spec model, we look forward to broadening our appeal with performance-focused buyers.”

American Honda Vehicle Sales for April 2017
		Month-to-Date				Year-to-Date
		April 2017	April 2016	DSR** % Change	MoM % Change	April 2017	April 2016	DSR** % Change	YoY % Change
	American Honda Total	138,386	148,829	-3.4%	-7.0%	503,679	506,532	0.4%	-0.6%
	Total Car Sales	69,427	77,819	-7.4%	-10.8%	243,033	267,919	-8.4%	-9.3%
	Total Truck Sales	68,959	71,010	0.8%	-2.9%	260,646	238,613	10.3%	9.2%
	Honda Total Car Sales	63,140	72,251	-9.2%	-12.6%	226,940	248,644	-7.8%	-8.7%
	Honda Total Truck Sales	61,114	60,372	5.1%	1.2%	230,845	203,807	14.4%	13.3%
	Acura Total Car Sales	6,287	5,568	17.3%	12.9%	16,093	19,275	-15.7%	-16.5%
	Acura Total Truck Sales	7,845	10,638	-23.4%	-26.3%	29,801	34,806	-13.5%	-14.4%
	Total Domestic Car Sales	56,421	72,508	-19.2%	-22.2%	196,420	251,485	-21.1%	-21.9%
	Honda Division	50,240	67,096	-22.2%	-25.1%	180,726	232,699	-21.6%	-22.3%
	Acura Division	6,181	5,412	18.6%	14.2%	15,694	18,786	-15.6%	-16.5%
	Total Domestic Truck Sales	68,959	71,010	0.8%	-2.9%	260,646	238,613	10.3%	9.2%
	Honda Division	61,114	60,372	5.1%	1.2%	230,845	203,807	14.4%	13.3%
	Acura Division	7,845	10,638	-23.4%	-26.3%	29,801	34,806	-13.5%	-14.4%
	Total Import Car Sales	13,006	5,311	154.3%	144.9%	46,613	16,434	186.4%	183.6%
	Honda Division	12,900	5,155	159.9%	150.2%	46,214	15,945	192.7%	189.8%
	Acura Division	106	156	-29.4%	-32.1%	399	489	-17.6%	-18.4%
	Total Import Truck Sales	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
	Honda Division	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
	Acura Division	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
MODEL BREAKOUT BY DIVISION
	Honda Division Total	124,254	132,623	-2.7%	-6.3%	457,785	452,451	2.2%	1.2%
	* ACCORD	26,938	31,526	-11.3%	-14.6%	96,753	108,599	-10.0%	-10.9%
	* CIVIC	31,211	35,331	-8.3%	-11.7%	112,865	122,634	-7.1%	-8.0%
	CLARITY FCV	34	0	0.0%	0.0%	126	0	0.0%	0.0%
	CR-Z	85	253	-65.1%	-66.4%	421	736	-42.2%	-42.8%
	* FIT	4,871	5,132	-1.4%	-5.1%	16,773	16,645	1.8%	0.8%
	INSIGHT	1	9	-88.5%	-88.9%	2	30	-93.3%	-93.3%

	CROSSTOUR	0	72	-100.0%	-100.0%	3	638	-99.5%	-99.5%
	* CR-V	32,671	28,913	17.3%	13.0%	126,728	100,101	27.9%	26.6%
	HR-V	8,527	6,969	27.1%	22.4%	28,223	22,484	26.8%	25.5%
	ODYSSEY	6,984	13,047	-44.4%	-46.5%	28,011	40,486	-30.1%	-30.8%
	PILOT	9,746	11,370	-11.0%	-14.3%	34,970	40,096	-11.9%	-12.8%
	RIDGELINE	3,186	1	330,754%	318,500%	12,910	2	651,791%	645,400%

	*** Memo: Accord FHEV	1,787	29	6,299.1%	6,062.1%	7,208	219	3,223.9%	3,191.3%
	Memo: Civic Hybrid	8	92	-91.0%	-91.3%	47	562	-91.6%	-91.6%
	Acura Division Total	14,132	16,206	-9.4%	-12.8%	45,894	54,081	-14.3%	-15.1%
	ILX	832	1,633	-47.1%	-49.1%	3,088	5,920	-47.3%	-47.8%
	NSX	91	0	0.0%	0.0%	224	0	0.0%	0.0%
	RLX / RL	106	156	-29.4%	-32.1%	399	487	-17.3%	-18.1%
	TLX	5,258	3,779	44.5%	39.1%	12,382	12,866	-2.8%	-3.8%
	TSX	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	2	-100.0%	-100.0%

	MDX	4,052	4,733	-11.1%	-14.4%	15,008	16,689	-9.2%	-10.1%
	RDX	3,793	5,905	-33.3%	-35.8%	14,793	18,117	-17.5%	-18.3%
	*** MDX Sport Hybrid	57	0	0.0%	0.0%	57	0	0.0%	0.0%
	Memo: ILX Hybrid	0	1	-100.0%	-100.0%	0	1	-100.0%	-100.0%
	Memo: RLX Hybrid	22	19	20.2%	15.8%	90	68	33.7%	32.4%
	Memo: TSX Wagon	0	0	0.0%	0.0%	0	0	0.0%	0.0%
	Selling Days	26	27			101	102
	**** Hybrid	2,051	403	428.5%	408.9%	8,049	1,616	403.0%	398.1%

*

Honda and Acura vehicles are made of domestic & global sourced parts

**

Daily Selling Rate

***

Memo line items are included in the respective model total

****

Hybrid includes FHEV, PHEV, CR-Z, Civic Hybrid, Insight, ILX Hybrid, RLX Hybrid, RLX Sport Hybrid, MDX Sport Hybrid and NSX

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DiversityInc® Recognizes CVS Health on List of “Top 50 Companies for Diversity”

May 3, 2017

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CVS Health

WOONSOCKET, Rhode Island, May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today announced that it earned a place on DiversityInc’s 2017 Top 50 Companies for Diversity list for the first time after several years of working its way up on the 25 Noteworthy list. CVS Health’s #50 ranking was announced last night at DiversityInc’s keystone event in New York.

“We know from experience that diversity makes CVS Health a better company, and we are very proud of this extraordinary achievement,” said CVS Health President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Merlo. “As a company reinventing health care, we are strongly committed to promoting a diverse workforce and inclusive culture, both of which are keys to producing innovative solutions that improve patient care and health care delivery and sustains top performance for our customers, colleagues and shareholders.”

CVS Health moved onto the Top 50 Companies for Diversity list this year due in large part to a greater focus on diverse supplier spending which surpassed $1 billion in 2016. Additionally, the company significantly outperformed in recruiting at the management level for African Americans, Hispanics and women, compared to top 10 DiversityInc companies, and increased colleague participation in the company’s Employee Resource Groups by 20 percent, both of which contributed to CVS Health’s diversity profile.

“Diversity and inclusion aren’t stand-alone objectives inside our company ‒ they are part of everything we do in fulfilling our purpose of helping people on their path to better health,” said David Casey, Vice President, Workforce Development and Chief Diversity Officer, CVS Health. “We are committed to striving every day to sustain a workplace in which every colleague feels valued, respected and appreciated, and is able to reach his or her full potential.”

The DiversityInc Top 50 list, issued yearly since 2001, recognizes the nation’s top companies for diversity and inclusion management. These companies excel in such areas as hiring, retaining and promoting women, minorities, people with disabilities, LGBT and veterans. DiversityInc’s extensive annual survey yields an empirically driven ranking based on recruitment, talent development, senior leadership commitment and supplier diversity. This year’s competition was improved by new survey questions, increased emphasis on fairness over chasing numbers and more sophisticated analysis from DiversityInc’s data scientists.

This recognition is the latest in a series of third-party acknowledgments, including CVS Health being ranked #45 on Fortune’s Most Admired Companies in 2017, #3 on Fast Company’s® 50 Most Innovative Companies in 2016 and among the World’s Most Valuable Brands by Forbes®. The company also received awards recognizing its innovation, leadership, and workplace practices by the Billion Dollar Roundtable (supplier diversity spending), CIO (100 Best Companies for IT Innovation), Corporate Responsibility Magazine® (100 Best Corporate Citizens), Human Rights Campaign® (Best Places to Work for LGBT Equality) and Disability Equality Index (Best Places to Work).

To learn more about CVS Health’s diversity and inclusion efforts, visit https://www.cvshealth.com/ /diversity. To view the entire Top 50 list, visit http://www.diversityinc.com/top50.

About CVS Health
CVS Health is a pharmacy innovation company helping people on their path to better health. Through its nearly 9,700 retail locations, more than 1,100 walk-in medical clinics, a leading pharmacy benefits manager with nearly 90 million plan members, a dedicated senior pharmacy care business serving more than one million patients per year, expanding specialty pharmacy services, and a leading stand-alone Medicare Part D prescription drug plan, the company enables people, businesses and communities to manage health in more affordable and effective ways. This unique integrated model increases access to quality care, delivers better health outcomes and lowers overall health care costs. Find more information about how CVS Health is shaping the future of health at https://www.cvshealth.com.

Media Contact
Joe Goode, 401-770-9820
[email protected]

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Roberto González Barrera joins the Hall of Fame of the Tortilla Industry Association of the United States

May 2, 2017

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LAS VEGAS, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Due to his outstanding work and important contributions to the tortilla industry in the United States, today the Tortilla Industry Association (TIA) welcomed Mr. Roberto González Barrera into its Hall of Fame. Mr. González Barrera is the founder of Gruma (Azteca Milling and Mission Foods), the leading company worldwide in the production of corn meal, tortillas and wraps, with operations in more than 125 countries and 80 plants all over the world.

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The members of TIA’s Hall of Fame are businesspeople in the Americas who are recognized for their contributions to the tortilla industry through the creation of companies, research and innovation in products, equipment and ingredients.

During the ceremony, Juan González Moreno, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gruma (Azteca Milling and Mission Foods) received the award for his 68-year-old father on behalf of the González Moreno family. Mr. Roberto González Barrera, together with his grandfather Roberto M. González Gutiérrez, created what is today the leading company worldwide in the production of corn meal, tortillas and wraps.

González Moreno started off by recounting to Jim Kabbani, CEO of the Tortilla Industry Association, and other notable businesspeople in the sector, how his father and grandfather sold their businesses to purchase their first corn meal mill and how they sold the dry meal, which is today the company MASECA, with which they completely revolutionized the tortilla industry in Mexico and worldwide. Then he went on to explain Roberto’s grand vision for business.

“A great example of this was how he took advantage of the development of food and the Mexican tortilla in the United States. I remember the difficulties entering the market in Los Angeles, where he searched for a strategy to convince clients to use MASECA’S corn meal; how he explained to them and showed them that his product was also made of corn, but that it had advantages for them, such as the fact that it was easier to prepare, it did not spoil as quickly, and less was wasted when making tortillas.”

Gruma’s first incursion into the United States was in the mid-1970s, when it purchased its first tortilla plant (Mission) in Canoga Park, California; in 1977 it opened its first MASECA mill in Texas.

“I can tell you that Roberto was a great man, businessman, worker and visionary. When I was a boy, I remember that on the weekends I would go with him and my grandfather to sell corn meal. He taught me the foundations of business and love for the company. He taught me that work and effort are the basis of success. I remember these things every day,” he added.

“I am grateful for the help and the guidance that inspired me to be who I am. I had the best teacher with his lessons and advice, and today I feel secure in facing the challenges I experience in Gruma’s (Azteca Milling and Mission Foods) day-to-day. It continues to be the company that nourishes the heart of Mexico and the world,” said Juan González Moreno, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gruma.

The Tortilla Industry Association, created in 1989, is a non-profit organization headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, whose members include tortilla manufacturers, industry providers and distributors worldwide, and companies with interests in the sector, mainly in the United States.

In the United States, the tortilla is the food with the highest growth among consumers, and its annual sales exceed ethnic and specialized foods, including bagels, croissants, muffins and pita bread.

Created in 1949, Gruma is the largest producer of corn meal, tortillas and wraps worldwide. With leading brands in the majority of its markets, Gruma operates mainly in the United States, Mexico, Central America, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Its corporate offices are located in Monterrey, Mexico. It has approximately 24,000 employees and 80 plants strategically located all over the world. In 2016, the company’s sales were approximately US$ 3.6 billion dollars, of which 75% came from operations outside of Mexico.

During the first quarter of 2017 (1Q17), Gruma made capital investments of US$ 58 million dollars, which funds were used in several areas, including: in the United States, building a state-of-the-art tortilla plant in Dallas, which will be operational in the second quarter of the year, increasing capacity at its corn meal plant in Indiana, and expanding its tortilla plant in Florida; in Europe funds will go towards building a tortilla plant in Russia; and in Asia, towards expanding the capacity of its plant in Malaysia.

Contact:
Pedro R. Rodriguez Peña
Communication and Corporate Image
Tel. Dir.: +52 (55) 9177-0419 and 0492
[email protected]

Blue Diamond Resorts Announces New Hideaway at Royalton Punta Cana, Opening Late 2017

May 2, 2017

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PUNTA CANA, Dominican Republic, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire/ — Blue Diamond Resorts is excited to announce the development of a 168-suite Hideaway at Royalton Punta Cana resort, a modern and luxurious adults-only oasis adjacent to the award-winning Royalton Punta Cana. Hideaway at Royalton Luxury Resorts have become a top choice among adult travelers seeking superior accommodations, premium service and gourmet dining in popular beachfront destinations including Cancun, Jamaica and Saint Lucia.

This news follows the announcement earlier this Spring that the resort chain has broken ground on the development of a new Royalton Bavaro Resort. “There is a lot of demand for the Royalton collection of resorts in Punta Cana and we look forward to creating another elegant and refined all-inclusive experience.” said Jordi Pelfort Managing Director of Blue Diamond Resorts.

The exclusive Hideaway at Royalton Punta Cana will be a redesigned resort that offers guests over the age of 18 elegant accommodations, complimentary extras such as afternoon hors d’oeuvres in exclusive pool and beach areas, waiter service, cold towels poolside, lens cleaning, and in-room amenities like aromatherapy, a custom beach bag and upgraded room service. For Diamond Club™ guests, premium services include preferred room locations, in-suite liquor, a pillow menu and spa discounts.

For recreation and entertainment, guests of Hideaway have unlimited access to all facilities at the Royalton Punta Cana including its world class Royal Spa and three spacious pools. Royalton’s All-In Luxury^® service offers flexibility with unlimited reservation-free gourmet dining featured in 10 restaurants including seven signature à la carte restaurants such as Hunter Steakhouse and the ever-popular Zen teppanyaki restaurant.

For more information on this new resort experience from award-winning Royalton Luxury Resorts, visit our website www.bluediamondresorts.com

About Blue Diamond Resorts
Since inception in 2011, Blue Diamond Resorts has risen to become the Caribbean’s fastest growing resort company with 32 properties exceeding 13,500 rooms in six countries. Taking an innovative approach to differentiating brands under each market’s demands, Blue Diamond Resorts’ ever-expanding portfolio is more impressive than ever. Award-winning All-In Luxury^®Royalton Luxury Resorts offer signature amenities including All-In Connectivity™, modern Sports Event Guarantee™ and in-suite wellness elements such as the exclusive handcrafted DreamBed™. Royalton Luxury Resorts’ adults-only sub-brands include Hideaway at Royalton, an adults-only experience with exclusive dining and preferred accommodations with access to the services and facilities at a nearby Royalton Luxury Resort, plus the stylish All Exclusive™ CHIC by Royalton, a social vacation experience with around-the-clock luxury amenities. In Jamaica, Grand Lido Negril has been revived to provide those over 21 an upscale and elegant naturist vacation along an exclusive shore for the ultimate in privacy. Memories Resorts & Spa is an experience designed to impress the entire family featuring on-site splash parks, a popular kids club with famous themed characters Toopy & Binoo™, and an innovative teen’s lounge. Adults-only concepts from Memories Resorts include Sanctuary inside of Grand Memories and Memories Caribe, a beachfront paradise in Cayo Coco. Starfish Resorts are solely found in Cuba and offer amazing value for customers with convenient locations and comfortable accommodations.

For further information, contact: Natalie Walsh, Corporate Manager Public Relations, Blue Diamond Resorts, +1-647-545-6926, [email protected]

Mazda Reports April Sales

May 2, 2017

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Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.

IRVINE, California, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Mazda North American Operations today reported April U.S. sales of 24,164 vehicles, representing a decrease of 7.8 percent versus April of last year. With 26 selling days in April 2017 versus 27 year-over-year in 2016, the adjusted daily sales rate is down 4.2 percent. Year-to-date sales through April are up 2.6 percent versus last year, with 93,235 vehicles sold.

Key April sales notes:

A mix of both all-new 2017 Mazda CX-5 compact crossover SUVs and previous-generation models led to the nameplate’s best April sales of all time with 11,334 sold. This represents a YOY increase of 28.4 percent during the 2017 CX-5’s first full month of sales.
The midsize, three-row Mazda CX-9 continues to build momentum, tallying 2,134 sales. This represents CX-9’s best April since 2011 when it posted 2,750 sales.
MX-5 Miata soft top and MX-5 RF retractable fastback sales continue to be strong, with 1,319 sold, a YOY increase of 21.5 percent. This represents MX-5’s best April since 2008 when sales totaled 1,441 MX-5s.
Total sales of Mazda’s CX crossover SUV line, including the CX-3, CX-5 and CX-9, were up 40.5 percent YOY with 14,615 vehicles sold in the month of April. When making purchase decisions regarding crossover SUVs, a majority of Mazda customers continue to choose the AWD option, with 62.1 percent of CX-line vehicles sold in April being equipped with predictive i-ACTIV All-Wheel Drive.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported April sales of 3,830 vehicles, up 5 percent YOY.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California, and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 600 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at InsideMazda.MazdaUSA.com/Newsroom.

	Month-To-Date				Year-To-Date

	April	April	%	% MTD	April	April	%	% YTD
	2017	2016	Change	DSR	2017	2016	Change	DSR

Mazda2	–	3	(100.0)%	(100.0)%	–	3	(100.0)%	(100.0)%
Mazda3	5,980	10,722	(44.2)%	(42.1)%	26,586	32,855	(19.1)%	(19.9)%
Mazda5	1	54	(98.1)%	(98.1)%	6	259	(97.7)%	(97.7)%
Mazda6	2,249	3,929	(42.8)%	(40.6)%	12,941	14,212	(8.9)%	(9.8)%
MX-5 Miata	1,319	1,086	21.5%	26.1%	4,701	3,495	34.5%	33.2%
CX-3	1,147	1,504	(23.7)%	(20.8)%	4,861	6,421	(24.3)%	(25.0)%
CX-5	11,334	8,826	28.4%	33.4%	35,708	32,433	10.1%	9.0%
CX-9	2,134	71	2905.6%	3021.2%	8,432	1,161	626.3%	619.1%

Total Vehicles

CARS	9,549	15,794	(39.5)%	(37.2)%	44,234	50,824	(13.0)%	(13.8)%
TRUCKS	14,615	10,401	40.5%	45.9%	49,001	40,015	22.5%	21.2%

TOTAL	24,164	26,195	(7.8)%	(4.2)%	93,235	90,838	2.6%	1.6%


Selling Days	26	27			101	100

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The Home Depot to Host First Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call on May 16

May 2, 2017

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ATLANTA, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, announced today that it will hold its First Quarter 2017 Earnings Conference Call on Tuesday, May 16, at 9 a.m. ET.

A webcast will be available by logging onto http://ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations and selecting the First Quarter Earnings Conference Call icon. The webcast will be archived and available beginning at approximately noon on May 16.

The Home Depot is the world’s largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,281 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. In fiscal 2016, The Home Depot had sales of $94.6 billion and earnings of $8.0 billion. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

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Texas housing market starts 2017 with strong gains in home sales, prices

May 2, 2017

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AUSTIN, Texas, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Texas housing market kicked off 2017 with strong gains in sales volume and home prices, according to the 2017-Q1 Texas Quarterly Housing Report released today by the Texas Association of Realtors.

“On the heels of a second consecutive record year for Texas home sales, the positive momentum experienced in the Texas housing market during the last quarter of 2016 has continued in 2017,” said Vicki Fullerton, chairman of the Texas Association of Realtors. “Annual gains in both sales and listing activity in the first quarter indicate that a strong summer selling season could be ahead.”

In the first quarter of 2017, Texas home sales volume increased 4.6 percent year-over-year to 68,420 sales. The median price for Texas homes increased 9.4 percent in the same time frame to $213,325.

The price distribution of Texas homes showed a decline in sales volume among lower-priced homes typically considered affordable for entry-level homebuyers in Texas. The amount of Texas homes sold for less than $200,000 decreased 5.7 percentage points from 2016-Q1 to 45.6 percent of all Texas homes sold in 2017-Q1.

Dr. Jim Gaines, chief economist with the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, commented, “Texas leads the country in new home development, but its rapid pace of housing development is still not enough to keep pace with population growth and housing demand throughout the state. As Texas home prices and U.S. interest rates are projected to increase in 2017, now is an opportune time to buy a home in Texas.”

Active listings increased 6 percent year-over-year to 98,399 listings in the first quarter of 2017. Texas homes spent an average of 64 days on the market during the same time frame, which is unchanged from last year.

Monthly housing inventory in Texas increased 0.1 months from 2016-Q1 to 3.6 months of inventory. This is the first time since 2011 that monthly housing inventory in Texas has posted annual gains in the first quarter. At the same time, statewide housing stock remains well below the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University’s benchmark of 6 to 6.5 months of inventory as a balanced housing market.

Chairman Fullerton concluded, “The growing shortage of lower-priced housing inventory is directly impacting the ability for Texas residents to afford a home. Texas Realtors have expert knowledge of affordability programs and financing tools available to Texas homebuyers. Homebuyers seeking to purchase a home this summer should begin working with a Texas Realtor now to determine what resources are available to them.”

About the Texas Quarterly Housing Report
Data for the Texas Quarterly Housing Report is provided by the Data Relevance Project, a partnership among local REALTOR® associations and their MLSs, the Real Estate Center at Texas A&M University, and the Texas Association of REALTORS®. The report provides quarterly real estate sales data for Texas and 25 metropolitan statistical areas in Texas. The Texas Real Estate Year-in-Review Report in February and the Texas Real Estate Mid-Year Report in August are released in lieu of the Q2 and Q4 reports each year.

About the Texas Association of REALTORS®
With more than 110,000 members, the Texas Association of REALTORS® is a professional membership organization that represents all aspects of real estate in Texas. We advocate on behalf of Texas REALTORS® and private-property owners to keep homeownership affordable, protect private-property rights, and promote public policies that benefit homeowners. Visit TexasRealEstate.com to learn more.

Contact:
Hunter Dodson
512-448-4950
[email protected]

LACNIC 27: Key Debates on the Future of the Internet and IPv6 Deployment in the Region

May 2, 2017

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MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — LACNIC will be holding its 27^th meeting together with NIC.br on 22-26 May at the Bourbon Cataratas Hotel in Foz do Iguaçu, Brasil. Topics to be presented during the meeting include IPv6 implementation success stories in the LAC region, the final stage of IPv4 exhaustion, progress made by Latin American and Caribbean Internet exchange points, and major threats to cybersecurity.

With more than 700 registered participants from more than 30 Latin American and Caribbean countries, the LACNIC 27 meeting will also address emerging trends in technology and their impact on the future development of the Internet over the next 10 years, as well as women’s participation in Information Technologies with a panel especially devoted to this topic.

One of the critical aspects of the Foz do Iguaçu meeting will be accelerating IPv6 deployment after IPv4 exhaustion at a time when the region has reached an Internet penetration rate of 59.6%. According to the latest information available on 31^st March, the Latin American and Caribbean community has already reached 385 million users, having incorporated 40 million new users over the past year (Internet World Stats, http://www.internetworldstats.com/).

The IPv6 protocol is key not only to foster the development of the Internet of Things throughout the region, but also because it is a vital tool for connecting 40% of Latin Americans who do not yet have access to the Internet. There are 255 million users in this situation and only 4 million IPv4 addresses, so IPv6 is essential for any project aimed at providing access to such communities.

As expected, much of the analysis and discussions in Foz do Iguaçu will focus on IPv6 deployment. The event will also include a panel on successful cases of IPv6 implementation in the region (examples in Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay) and the IPv6 Challenge aimed at recognizing projects that have promoted the implementation of version 6 of the IP protocol.

According to research conducted by LACNIC, at least nine countries of the region already have more than 1% of their traffic over IPv6: Guatemala, Argentina, Dominican Republic, Trinidad Tobago, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru.

Likewise, the first regional anti-abuse group formed by LACNIC, LACNOG and M3AAWG will be officially presented and five proposals for policy modifications will be discussed during the Policy Forum.

This meeting would not be possible without the support of its sponsors: Cisco, Huawei, Google, NTT Communications, Internet Society, ICANN, Netflix , Arbor, Facebook, Antel, Telcomanager, Grupo Binario, GlobeNet, Ams-ix, Secure64, IP Trading, Furukawa and our local organizer NIC.br.

We encourage everyone with an interest in these issues to participate remotely at http://www.lacnic.net/web/eventos/lacnic27

Gluten-Free Food Labeling: Important Information for Those with Celiac Disease

May 2, 2017

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) logo

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, May 2, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — May is Celiac Awareness Month. An estimated 3 million Americans suffer from celiac disease, a genetic autoimmune digestive disorder that damages the small intestine. Celiac disease is triggered by consumption of a protein called gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, rye, and crossbreeds of these grains. Gluten gives breads and other grain products (such as cakes, cereals, and pastas) their shape, strength, and texture. For those suffering from celiac disease (or choosing/preparing food for someone who does), identifying gluten-free food is critical.

In August 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a regulation that standardized what “gluten-free” means on food labels. This ensures that gluten-free claims on food products are consistent and reliable across the food industry.

Learn more at: http://www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/GuidanceDocumentsRegulatoryInformation/Allergens/ucm367654.htm

Understanding Gluten-Free Labeling

FDA defined the terms “Gluten-free,” “No gluten,” “Free of gluten,” and “Without gluten.” Foods bearing any of these terms have to meet the requirements of the gluten-free regulation. FDA encourages consumers to rely on these four terms when looking for foods that meet the FDA definition and can be used as part of a gluten-free diet. Other terms related to gluten may be used, if they are truthful and not misleading, but the food bearing the terms would not have to meet the requirements of the gluten-free regulation. Manufacturers are not required to place the voluntary gluten-free claim in any specific location on the food label.

Foods bearing a gluten-free claim must, among other things, contain less than 20 parts per million of gluten. This level is the lowest that can be reliably detected in foods using scientifically validated analytical methods. A food that is labeled as gluten-free but fails to meet the requirements of the regulation is subject to regulatory action by FDA.

Products Covered by the Gluten-Free Regulation

FDA’s regulation applies to all foods and beverages (including packaged foods, dietary supplements, fruits, vegetables, shell eggs, and fish) except for:

Meat, poultry, and certain egg products
Most alcoholic beverages

Gluten-Free When Eating Out

Given the public health significance of gluten-free labeling, FDA continues to encourage the restaurant industry to ensure that its use of gluten-free labeling is consistent with the federal definition. FDA also works with state and local governments, who play an important role in oversight of restaurants, and considers appropriate action as needed, alone or with other agencies, to protect consumers with respect to gluten-free labeling in restaurants.

Reporting Adverse Effects and Labeling Concerns

Individuals who become ill or experience adverse health effects that they believe are associated with having eaten a food should first seek appropriate medical care.

Afterward, individuals can report a problem with a food or its labeling in either of these ways:

Contact the consumer complaint coordinator in their area. The list of FDA consumer complaint coordinators is available at: http://www.fda.gov/Safety/ReportaProblem/ConsumerComplaintCoordinators
Contact MedWatch, FDA’s Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program, at 1-800-332-1088, or file a MedWatch voluntary report at http://www.fda.gov/medwatch.

Contact: Media: 1-301-796-4540 Consumers: 1-888-SAFEFOOD (toll free)

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(Español) Sherwin-Williams convierte colores digitales en capas de pintura para una buena causa

May 2, 2017

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.