Category Archives: Consumers

GDP Growth, Consumer Confidence Soar

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The economy grew at the fastest pace in over two years in the third quarter, as consumers, business investment and government increased spending. Gross domestic product expanded at a 3.2 percent annual rate in the Commerce Department’s second … Continue reading →

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Conforming Mortgage Limits Rise for 2017

Posted on November 28, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Federal Housing Finance Authority, or FHFA, just announced it is increasing the limit for conforming mortgages from $417,000 to $424,100 in most regions of the United States starting Jan. 1, 2017—the first such increase since 2006. The … Continue reading →

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Conforming Mortgage Limits Rise for 2017

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Federal Housing Finance Authority, or FHFA, just announced it is increasing the limit for conforming mortgages from $417,000 to $424,100 in most regions of the United States starting Jan. 1, 2017—the first such increase since 2006. This … Continue reading →

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Housing Starts, Home Sales ‘Yuge’

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Housing starts surged 25.5 percent in October to a 1.323 million annualized rate. This is the best rate of the cycle since August 2007 with the monthly percentage gain the strongest since 1982, says Econoday. It and … Continue reading →

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Record Retail Sales, Higher Growth Ahead?

Posted on November 18, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs It looks like Q4 GDP could be higher than the Third Quarter’s initial estimate of 2.9 percent growth. That’s because retail sales and wholesale inventories, both major contributors to growth, are surging. Retail sales jumped 0.8 percent in … Continue reading →

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Personal Incomes, Manufacturing Remain Strong

Posted on November 2, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Personal income rose a solid but slightly lower-than-expected 0.3 percent in September, reports the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). The wages & salaries component rose 0.3 percent, another sign of rising incomes. That’s why consumer … Continue reading →

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Q3 GDP Growth Fastest In 2 Years

Posted on October 28, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Third quarter GDP growth was the fastest in two years, aided by a spike in soybean and other U.S. exports and a rebound in the size of inventories companies keep on hand for sale, reports the U.S. Bureau … Continue reading →

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Housing Sales, Prices Continue Skyward

Posted on October 26, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The S&P Case Shiller Home Price Index continues to soar, with Seattle and Portland existing-home prices up double digits in a year, while Dallas and Denver are up some 8 percent annually. Case-Shiller’s national index is within … Continue reading →

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Housing Construction Slows

Posted on October 19, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Single-family housing construction rose in September. Though overall starts plunged what looks like a shocking 9.0 percent in September, to a 1.047 million annualized rate, said Econoday. The drop is tied entirely to the volatile multi-family component … Continue reading →

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Will Low Interest Rates Continue?

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner This question is behind much of the stock and bond market gyrations. We are near full employment with a 5.0 percent unemployment rate, some 11 million jobs created since the end of the Great Recession, yet we … Continue reading →

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