Category Archives: Consumers

Existing-Home Sales Fall, Inflation Too Tame

The Mortgage Corner After increasing to the highest annual rate in six months, existing-home sales tumbled in February amidst very low supply levels and robust price growth in several sections of the country, according to the National Association of Realtors. … Continue reading

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Job Openings Still At Record Level

Popular Economics Weekly The number of job openings rose to 5.5 million on the last business day of January, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. It is just below the record high set in July 2015. Hires declined … Continue reading

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Builder Sentiment Holds, Housing Starts Booming

The Mortgage Corner Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes was unchanged in March at a level of 58 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI).“Confidence levels are hovering above the 50-point mid-range, … Continue reading

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We Need More Productive Investment

Financial FAQs Consumers’ financial health has substantially improved in 2015, according to the Fed’s 2015 Q4 Flow of Funds report, plus, their real wages are rising because of lower inflation. And since consumer income drives aggregate demand—the overall demand for … Continue reading

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Consumer Finances Much Healthier

Financial FAQs Consumers’ financial health has substantially improved in 2015, and their net worth has now surpassed that of pre-recession 2006, according to the Fed’s 2015 Q4 Flow of Funds report. That is the main reason economic growth prospects have … Continue reading

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Why Did Michael Moore Invade Those Countries?

Popular Economics Weekly The answer is so simple, and sad. Mr. Moore’s latest eye-opening documentary, “Where To Invade Next?” visits countries that have learned from, and adopted our laws and policies, policies that no longer exist in the U.S. of … Continue reading

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Job Market Grows Stronger

Popular Economics Weekly Americans are going back to work, though mostly in lower paying jobs at the moment. That’s why those states and cities raising their minimum wage rate are so important for growth. The U.S. added 242,000 new jobs … Continue reading

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Fannie-Freddie Debacle Continues

The Mortgage Corner We are already seeing the results of Obama Administration attempts to kill Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the Government Sponsored Entities that guarantee more than 60 percent of all mortgages originated in the U.S. housing market these … Continue reading

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Construction Boosted By Public Works, Offices

The Mortgage Corner We are already seeing the results of the $1.1T budget agreement, and $305 STIRR Surface Transportation and Highway Trust Fund bill. Construction spending rose a strong 1.5 percent in January due to a surge in highway & … Continue reading

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Higher GDP, Consumer Spending Will Boost 2016 Growth

Financial FAQs Q4 GDP growth was just revised upward to 1.0 percent, from the 0.7 percent first estimate.  This, January’s personal income figures and durable goods orders show consumers and even parts of the manufacturing sector are still expanding, which … Continue reading

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