Category Archives: Consumers

Housing Recovery Still Uneven

Posted on May 4, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Fresh data from real-estate website Trulia show that just 34.2 percent of homes have returned to the peak levels registered before the onset of the recession in 2008, reports Marketwatch’s Andrea Requier. What’s more, Trulia estimates it could … Continue reading →

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Consumer Spending Down, Recession Looms?

Posted on May 2, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Wow! First-quarter GDP was paltry enough at 0.7 percent but consumer spending was even more paltry, at only 0.3 percent for the most embarrassing annualized pace since 2009. Unemployment is unusually low and consumer confidence unusually high … Continue reading →

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Slow Q1 GDP Growth Means What?

Posted on April 28, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 0.7 percent in the first quarter of 2017, according to the “advance” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the fourth quarter of 2016, real … Continue reading →

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Why Is Mortgage Lending Still Restricted?

Posted on April 25, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner We can thank the Great Recession for most of it. Banks have become much more conservative, and builders are building approximately 50 percent fewer residences vs. the 2 million housing units at the height of the housing … Continue reading →

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Return To Low Interest Rates Boosts Housing

Posted on April 20, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The conforming 30-year fixed rate mortgage is now 3.50 percent and the so-called Hi-Balance conforming 30-year fixed rate is 3.75 percent these days for a 1 percent origination fee. And this is what has kept the demand … Continue reading →

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Which Trump Economic Proposals Should Fail?

Posted on April 18, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly It doesn’t look good for two Trump and Republican campaign promises currently working their way through Congress: i.e., to repeal and replace Obamacare, and reform the tax code. They should really be working on what is possible; … Continue reading →

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Why the Weak March Employment Report?

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The good news is the unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent, and number of unemployed persons (i.e., available for work) declined by 326,000 to 7.2 million. Both measures were improved numbers over the year. But just 98,000 … Continue reading →

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Consumers Too Optimistic?….Then Watch Out Below!

Posted on April 4, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Consumer confidence has risen to what might be unsustainable levels—the highest in 16 years. That was in 2000, which was at the end of a 10-year economic recovery, the longest recovery since WWII. The Conference Board’s index … Continue reading →

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Job Claims Down, GDP Revised Up, And 2017?

Posted on March 31, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Initial weekly jobless claims for unemployment benefits, the best predictor of employment trends, continues downward, but with some upward blips of late that are probably due to still severe weather in the northeast (snow) and south (tornadoes). And … Continue reading →

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Consumer Confidence Highest In 16 Years

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index soared to its highest level in 16 years. Its Consumer Confidence Index®, which had already increased in February, improved again in March. The Index now stands at 125.6 (1985=100), up from 116.1 … Continue reading →

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