Category Archives: Consumers

Consumers Not Shopping Anymore?

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly What has happened to second quarter economic growth? Economists had been predicting 3 percent plus GDP growth for Q2, but consumers are cutting back instead. Retail sales have fallen with inflation, not a good sign for demand, … Continue reading →

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Why Home Sales Rising Fast, Construction Lagging?

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner We are once again in a housing conundrum. May Existing-home sales just surged 1.1 percent to 5.62 million units, after falling for several months. And housing starts fell for the third straight month an unexpected 5.5 percent … Continue reading →

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Why Did Fed Raise Rates Again?

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly U.S. growth cycles have averaged about 8 years since WWII, yet the Federal Reserve just announced they were raising their overnight rate for the third time—to 1.25 percent. It also forecast that the unemployment rate could fall … Continue reading →

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We Have Reached Full Employment!

Posted on June 2, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial fAQs The U.S. added a modest 138,000 new jobs in May and hiring earlier in the spring was weaker than initially reported, adding to evidence that the tightest labor market in years is making it harder for companies to … Continue reading →

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This is A Goldilocks Economy!

Posted on May 31, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial fAQs Economists have debated just what ideal economic growth should be, but the Federal Reserve does it for us. The Fed defines ideal growth as when we are at full employment with moderate inflation, inflation that says an economy … Continue reading →

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Has dismantling of American health care system begun?

Posted on May 25, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial fAQs We now know that the revised Republican repeal of Obamacare is really intended to dismantle and perhaps destroy any federally-funded health care program, which would return health care coverage to either cash-starved states or private industry; to the … Continue reading →

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What Creates Higher Growth?

Posted on May 23, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Amidst all the talk of Republicans promise to cut regulations and taxes to boost growth, there is one problem. Where are the workers that would boost growth? We are already close to full employment, and in fact … Continue reading →

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Higher Industrial Production Sign Increased Growth?

Posted on May 17, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Industrial production in April grew at the fastest monthly rate in more than three years on the back of broad-based gains in the manufacturing sector, reports the Federal Reserve. Industrial production grew 1 percent in April led … Continue reading →

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Builder Optimism + Affordability Higher

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Some good news is that rising wages and moderating home prices offset a rise in mortgage interest rates to give housing affordability a slight boost in the first quarter of 2017, said the National Association of Home … Continue reading →

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April Employment Up, Q1 Consumer Spending Weak

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 211,000 in April, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent in March, reported the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today. Job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, health … Continue reading →

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