Monthly Archives: July 2014

Consumer Confidence In A ‘Goldilocks’ Economy

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Once upon a time, the U.S. was considered to have a “Goldilocks” economy that was neither too hot nor too cold; where inflation was moderate, yet there was full employment. This last happened in the late 1990s … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Macro Economics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Pending Home Sales Remain Strong

Posted on July 29, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, declined 1.1 percent to 102.7 in June from 103.8 in May, and is 7.3 percent below June 2013 (110.8), reports the National Association of Realtors. … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Restricted Credit Will Impede Housing Recovery

Posted on July 24, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs As if we need more evidence that the Consumer Protection Finance Bureau and government regulators have listened to the wrong people when drafting their Qualified Mortgage requirements (that lowers the maximum debt-to-income ratio to 43 percent for non-agency … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Existing-Home Sales On Rise Again

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The NAR just reported total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, climbed 2.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.04 million in June from an upwardly-revised 4.91 … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Housing, housing market, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Forget the Consumer!

Posted on July 22, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly “It’s the Consumers, Stupid,” is an oft-repeated mantra being echoed currently by Internet advocates who want to keep Internet access free. But there’s a more important reason to worry about consumer health. Consumers are still way too … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Keynesian economics, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Why Such Low Interest Rates?

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Fixed 30-year conforming interest rates have once again dropped slightly below 4 percent for a 1 pt. origination fee in California, after being as high as 4.50 percent earlier this year. Why the drop when most economic … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Don’t Forget the Millennials!

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Fed Chair Janet Yellen’s current congressional testimony is saying the Fed could keep rates low for a long time to come. Why? Because unemployment is still too high, and economic growth too slow at present. The CBO … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Keynesian economics, Macro Economics, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Economic Recovery Is For Real

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We are already in July, and can now see that the US economic recovery is for real, in spite of the past winter. Even economic growth is picking up, so that second quarter Gross Domestic Product might … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Where is Housing Affordable?

Posted on July 14, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Why aren’t there more home buyers? It seems that housing can’t really recover until household incomes recover, and household incomes are barely keeping up with inflation at the moment. We also know that can’t happen until we … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Housing, housing market, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

We Need Some Inflation!

Posted on July 8, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs How much inflation is too much inflation? Germany thinks any inflation is too much, based on their 1920s inflation experience when burning money for fuel was cheaper than burning wood. It has led to the EU’s draconian austerity … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Keynesian economics, Macro Economics, Politics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment