Monthly Archives: December 2022

To A Happier New Year!

Popular Economics Weekly AtlantaGDPNow Will US economic growth fall off a cliff in January? Maybe not. The Atlanta Federal Reserves’ GDPNow estimate has just raised their estimate of fourth quarter GDP growth to 3.7 percent and it was right on … Continue reading

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US Economy Still Surging

Popular Economics Weekly BEA.gov Surprise, surprise. Third quarter GDP growth was revised upward in the government’s third estimate. How can we be thinking of a recession next year? Oh yes, because it increases the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will … Continue reading

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Housing Market Swoons

The Mortgage Corner Confidence among U.S. single-family home builders fell for a record 12th straight month in December as even a scramble to offer incentives for prospective buyers failed to boost traffic and lift sales in today’s high-inflation, high-interest rate … Continue reading

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Don’t Blame the Workers

Popular Economics Weekly FREDavghourlywages What are we to make of Senator Elizabeth Warren’s reaction to Fed Chair Powell’s recent remarks on inflation? “He’s pushing hard to get more people fired because he thinks that is one way to help bring … Continue reading

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What Is the Real Inflation Rate?

The Mortgage Corner MarketWatch Nobel Prize-winner Joe Stiglitz has weighed in once more against Chairman Powell’s Federal Reserve boost of short-term interest rates further; because curent short-term rates have almost returned to the 2 percent target range—if we consider what … Continue reading

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Corporate Profits the Inflation Culprit?

Financial FAQs BusinessInsider Another just published economic indicator predicts inflation could be moderating faster than predicted by most analysts. The New York Fed’s consumer expectation survey just out reported median one-, three-, and five-year-ahead inflation expectations decreased to 5.2 percent, 3.0 percent, … Continue reading

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Consumer Sentiments Rising As Inflation Declines

The Mortgage Corner UnivMichigan Consumers are feeling more optimistic, and it’s probably because they are seeing price rises beginning to moderate and prices decline in some areas. The University of Michigan reported in its preliminary sentiment survey for December that … Continue reading

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Government Is Solution (Not the Problem)

Financial FAQs BEA.gov It looks increasingly like the economy is doing the Federal Reserve’s work in bringing down inflation, says the most recent economic data. And our government is doing its part. Much of recently enacted U.S. government programs will … Continue reading

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Too Many New Jobs?

Popular Economics Weekly FREDavghourlywages The Fed Governors won’t like this morning’s unemployment report. The U.S. Census Bureau just reported that 263,000 nonfarm payroll jobs were created in November and average hourly wages are still rising 5.1 percent annually. To make … Continue reading

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Inflation Decline Accelerating

Financial FAQs The Personal Consumption Expenditure Index (PCE) is declining as well, which is a broader measure of inflation preferred by the Federal Reserve than the Consumer Price Index (CPI). This is probably why Fed Chair Powell sounded more dovish … Continue reading

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