Monthly Archives: March 2024

Fourth Quarter Growth Even Better

The Mortgage Corner Economic growth is picking up and the housing market is following suit, which means the post-pandemic recovery is looking even better this year. The final reading of Q4 2023 U.S. Gross Domestic Product growth adjusted for inflation … Continue reading

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Irrational Exuberance vs. Irrational Pessimism?

Popular Economics Weekly I don’t believe Wall Street investors are irrationally exuberant at present, contrary to those that say we are now in a stock market bubble with the record level S&P and DOW indexes. It’s as easy to be … Continue reading

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New Home Sales Boost Housing Market

The Mortgage Corner The sale of new homes is boosting housing and the economy at a very opportune time—the beginning of a New Year when it’s still uncertain when the Fed will begin to cut their interest rates. This is … Continue reading

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Too Much Irrational Exuberance?

Popular Economics Weekly Are Wall Street investors irrationality exuberant? Former Bond King and CEO of the PIMCO bond fund Bill Gross thinks so. Irrational exuberance is a term coined by former Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan in 1996 to describe the … Continue reading

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Strong Growth Will Continue

Financial FAQs There’s a good reason we have avoided a recession, I said last week. Consumers’ personal financial conditions have improved, so they continue to shop, and they are responsible for 70 percent of economic activity. Now the Conference Board’s … Continue reading

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Consumers Want More Stability

The Mortgage Corner More consumers, and most Americans, are deciding they want calm after the instability of the Pandemic era. They are craving fewer economic disruptions for starters, such as the partisan wars that have stymied budget negotiations. “Nearly three-quarters … Continue reading

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Retail Inflation Is the Problem

Popular Economics Weekly There is a reason the Biden administration wants to prevent the merger of Kroger and Albertsons Supermarket chains. It lowers competition at a time when the largest retailers are now responsible for much of the inflation that … Continue reading

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Consumers Confident No Recession

Financial FAQs There is a good reason why we have avoided a recession. Consumers don’t believe it will happen. And consumers drive some 70 percent of US economic activity. So their attitudes tend to make or break economic growth. When … Continue reading

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It’s A Soft Landing

Popular Economics Weekly A terrific February employment report is further evidence the US economy has made a soft landing. FREDemployment Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 275,000 in February, and the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.9 percent from … Continue reading

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More Jobs Ahead?

Financial FAQs  The US economy hasn’t slowed. Fourth quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was revised downward from 3.3 percent to 3.2 percent in the second estimate, and predictions for first quarter 2024 GDP growth are hovering between 2-3 percent. … Continue reading

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