Category Archives: Consumers

HARP 2.0 Leads Mortgage Refinance Higher

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner There is growing optimism that the real estate bust is finally at an end. The cause is a combination of record low interest rates leading to more refinance activity and increasing confidence of consumers in the economic … Continue reading →

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

Consumers Becoming Healthier—Part II

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Consumers seem to be doing better, as I said last week, in spite of their worries about jobs, the economy and budget deficits (their own more than governments’). Consumer credit jumped $17.1 billion in May for the largest … Continue reading →

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

Consumers Are Doing Fine

Posted on July 13, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Consumers seem to be doing fine, in spite of their worries about jobs in the latest University of Michigan sentiment survey, the economy and budget deficits (their own more than governments’). June average hourly earnings improved to a … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Obamacare–What Loss of Freedom?

Posted on July 3, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Hallelujah. The Supreme Court of our land has given Obamacare a clean constitutional bill of health, thanks to its Chief Justice, who says government does have the power to tax those who can afford to buy health … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Politics | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The War on Workers

Posted on May 15, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We are seeing what can only be called a war on workers by Tea Party Republicans in particular. Who are workers? The 80 percent of consumers who are wage and salary earners. And they have not done … Continue reading →

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

The National Mortgage Settlement

Posted on April 12, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The $25B National Mortgage Settlement has finally been signed off by a federal judge, and 5 of the largest banks will begin the process of providing relief to the estimated 9 million present or former homeowners who … Continue reading →

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

Attacks on Women’s Contraception Harms U.S. Economically

Posted on March 5, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Republicans, whether knowingly or unknowingly, not only court political disaster when they attack women’s contraception, but risk economic disaster as well, since without readily available contraception—from the pill onward—women would not have been able to contribute to … Continue reading →

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

Fair Play Benefits All of Us

Posted on January 31, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Popular Economics Weekly The idea of fair play may be the key issue in 2012—both with the Presidential campaign and economic growth. How so? Both political parties are jockeying to portray their message as fair—Democrats want to restore the … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumers, Economy, Keynesian economics, Macro Economics, Weekly Financial News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Can the Fed Rescue Real Estate?

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner How can we thank Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke for keeping our economy afloat? Not only has the Fed kept interest rates low enough to prevent actual deflation, as happened to Japan over the past 20 years and … Continue reading →

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

2012 Will Be Better

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The elements seem to be in place for a better 2012 economy, despite the euro worries, budget deficits, and 8.6 percent jobless rate. Why?  Banks are lending again, and it was the tight bank credit after bursting … Continue reading →

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