Tag Archives: interest rates

The Declining Treasury Yield Curve—Recession Looming?

Posted on May 11, 2017 by

Financial FAQs We are basically at full employment with a 4.4 percent unemployment rate, which should tell us we are nearing the end of this growth cycle. Econoday reports, “The total number of employed Americans, and this includes both the … Continue reading →

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Why Is Mortgage Lending Still Restricted?

Posted on April 25, 2017 by

The Mortgage Corner We can thank the Great Recession for most of it. Banks have become much more conservative, and builders are building approximately 50 percent fewer residences vs. the 2 million housing units at the height of the housing … Continue reading →

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Why the Weak March Employment Report?

Posted on April 8, 2017 by

The Mortgage Corner The good news is the unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent, and number of unemployed persons (i.e., available for work) declined by 326,000 to 7.2 million. Both measures were improved numbers over the year. But just 98,000 … Continue reading →

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Consumer Confidence Highest In 16 Years

Posted on March 28, 2017 by

Financial FAQs The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index soared to its highest level in 16 years. Its Consumer Confidence Index®, which had already increased in February, improved again in March. The Index now stands at 125.6 (1985=100), up from 116.1 … Continue reading →

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New Home Sales Surge, Existing Sales Not So Much

Posted on March 27, 2017 by

The Mortgage Corner New home sales shot 6.1 percent higher in February to a 592,000-annualized rate and is near the 600,000 top estimate of economists. Sales appeared to have gotten a boost from builder concessions as the median price fell … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales, Inflation, Interest Rates Rising

Posted on March 15, 2017 by

Financial FAQs Gasoline prices pulled down February’s retail sales, falling 0.6 percent after rising 2.1 percent in January. But when excluding volatile autos and gasoline prices, sales rose 0.2 percent vs January’s very strong 1.1 percent. And control group sales, … Continue reading →

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Strong Jobs Report = Rising Interest Rates

Posted on March 10, 2017 by

Popular Economics Weekly Economists are almost unanimous that the Fed will raise their short term rates at next week’s FOMC meeting. This is because total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 235,000 in February, and the unemployment rate fell slightly to … Continue reading →

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