Category Archives: Consumers

Fannie/Freddie, Home Prices in Good Shape

Posted on October 13, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac brought in a combined second-quarter net income of $5 billion, nearly half of the $9.3 billion the two made in the first quarter of 2014, the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s … Continue reading →

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More Jobs Available, Goldman Upgrades RE Forecast

Posted on October 8, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Goldman Sachs economist David Mericle in his research report, “Housing: The Recovery Resumes” says that overall, the message from the broad housing data flow is that the housing market is still at the beginning of a new … Continue reading →

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Employment Report Won’t Cause Fed to Raise Rates

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Unemployment falls below 6% for first time since 2008 as U.S. adds 248,000 jobs said today’s MarketWatch headline at the release of the Labor Department’s September unemployment report. But it won’t be enough to push Janet Yellen’s Federal … Continue reading →

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Employment Up, Interest Rates Falling Again

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We are still in the Goldilocks economy—it’s not too hot or too cold. In fact, there is enough geopolitical unrest (now it’s the Hong Kong youth protests against China’s hardliners) to drive down interest rates, and boost … Continue reading →

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Pending-Home Sales Decline Slightly

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, fell 1.0 percent to 104.7 in August from 105.8 in July, and is now 2.2 percent below August 2013 (107.1). Despite the slight decline, the … Continue reading →

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Existing-Home Sales and Interest Rates

Posted on September 22, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The National Association of Realtors reported after four consecutive months of gains, existing-home sales slipped in August, as all-cash paying investors retreated from the market. Sales increases in the Northeast and Midwest were outweighed by declines in … Continue reading →

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Yellen’s Fed is Full Speed Ahead

Posted on September 20, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Is it possible? The Federal Reserve is now more interested in creating wealth for the many, rather than fighting inflation for the wealthiest worrying about their bond prices, as it has in the past? This may seem counterintuitive, … Continue reading →

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Who Are the Real Takers?

Posted on September 19, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We have been there before. The Census Bureau reported that the poverty rate fell in 2013, the first drop since 2006. It fell to 14.5 percent, down from 15 percent in 2013, but 45.3 million people are … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales Much Stronger?

Posted on September 15, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The jump in retail sales was huge, plus upward revisions to past months that made more sense with other indicators of a growing economy. It seems the consumer can afford to spend more with lower debt levels and … Continue reading →

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Pending Sales Up, Mortgage Delinquencies Down

Posted on September 2, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner U.S. home buyers signed more contracts to buy existing homes in July, rebounding from a drop in June. This is in line with declining delinquency and foreclosure rates that portend a healthy real estate market for the … Continue reading →

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