Category Archives: Consumers

Huge Jump In Existing-Home Sales

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Wow! Total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, rose 0.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.47 million in January from a downwardly revised 5.45 million in … Continue reading →

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Inflation Is Bringing Back Higher Growth!

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Consumer prices are on the rise and the Fed’s December rate hike doesn’t look misplaced at all, says Econoday. Year-on-year core prices (without food and energy prices) rose 1 tenth to plus 2.2 percent for the highest … Continue reading →

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How Extreme is Bernie’s Economic Vision?

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Major progressive economists are protesting Bernie Sanders predictions of robust economic growth and jobs if his policies are enacted. What are his policies? Policies he claims will give Americans what the other developed countries already offer to … Continue reading →

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2016 Housing Update

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner What should happen to U.S. housing in 2016, with interest rates at record lows and a healthy job market? Much will depend on population growth, and in particular the newest largest generation of all—the millennials, or Gen … Continue reading →

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Job Openings and Hires At Record Levels

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Job openings rose 5 percent to 5.6 million in December, the Labor Department said Tuesday. So why are the financial markets worrying about a looming recession? That reading was the second-highest ever recorded, behind only July 2015, … Continue reading →

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Why Are Mortgage Rates At Historical Lows?

Posted on February 9, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Mortgage rates continued to tumble over the past week as investors fled to the safety of government bonds, pushing Treasury yields down, mortgage provider Freddie Mac said Thursday. This is no surprise given the geopolitical uncertainties buffeting … Continue reading →

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Why Slower Fourth Quarter Growth?

Posted on January 30, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Gross domestic product — the value of everything a nation produces — expanded at a 0.7 percent annual rate from October to December. That’s a big markdown from 2 percent growth in the fall and 3.9 percent … Continue reading →

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Higher Employment = More New Homes

Posted on January 27, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Twenty Five states had lower unemployment, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics, as the economic recovery continues. That is probably why consumers continue to be optimistic and housing prices continue to soar—as high as 11 percent in … Continue reading →

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Candidate Bernie Is Candidate Obama

Posted on January 25, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly What I learned from last Sunday’s Charleston, South Carolina Democratic debate, the last debate before the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, is that Bernie Sanders the idealist, is almost a reincarnation of candidate Barack Obama in 2008 … Continue reading →

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High Builder Confidence Signals More Affordable Housing In 2016

Posted on January 20, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Builder confidence in the market for newly-built single-family homes held steady at 60 in January from a downwardly revised December reading of 60 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. Any number above … Continue reading →

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