Category Archives: Consumers

Romney’s 47 Percent Solution

Posted on October 1, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We know that Mitt Romney at a Florida fundraiser claimed that there are 47 percent of the people who will vote for President Obama no matter what, and “my job is not to worry about those people. … Continue reading →

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Home Builder’s Confidence at High

Posted on September 18, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner This is very big news. Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes rose for a fifth consecutive month in September to a level of 40 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing … Continue reading →

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Income Inequality Behind Most Poverty

Posted on September 14, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs There were 46.2 million Americans in poverty in 2011, as median household income decreased to its lowest level since 2000, according to a Census Bureau report released this week that illustrated the toll from ongoing labor-market weakness. The … Continue reading →

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Why Do We Need QE3?

Posted on September 13, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs It’s not hard to see why we need “QE3”, the Fed’s bond buying program to keep long term interest rates low. It’s almost an act of desperation. The Fed is the only game in town to stimulate growth … Continue reading →

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Fewer Foreclosures Boosting Housing Prices

Posted on September 11, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Calculated Risk just reported that Lender Processing Services (LPS) released their Mortgage Monitor report for July with some good news. According to LPS, 7.03 percent of mortgages were delinquent in July, down from 7.14 percent in June, … Continue reading →

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August Jobs Report—Manufacturing Slowdown

Posted on September 10, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The headlines said a “weak” job report on Friday. But it had nothing to do with politics or economic policy, at least directly. The jobs drop was all in manufacturing due to problems in Europe and China. … Continue reading →

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Pending Home Sales, Prices Up For the Year

Posted on August 29, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Home prices are finally rising nationally, according to same sales in the S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Index. It showed that all three headline composites ended the second quarter of 2012 with positive annual growth rates for the … Continue reading →

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Real Estate Leading Recovery—Part II

Posted on August 23, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Further evidence that real estate is recovering is the drop in both vacancy rates and so-called Real Estate Owned (REO) properties—i.e., that banks have taken back in foreclosure. Several analysts, including Calculated Risk, believe this is absorbing … Continue reading →

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Increased Consumer Spending a Good Sign

Posted on August 21, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The most recent retail sales show consumers are able to spend more, even as they borrow more. Add to that credit card delinquencies are at an 18-year low, according to credit reporting company Transunion Corp., and we have … Continue reading →

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Why the Summer Growth Slowdown?

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The summer growth numbers seem weak, and pundits are saying it’s due to the European recession (so lower exports), the ‘fiscal cliff’(employers uncertain about future growth), and consumers with too much debt. But the numbers really show a … Continue reading →

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