Category Archives: Consumers

A Record Year For Mortgages?

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner First quarter mortgage numbers are in, and we could be having a very good year for mortgage originations, says Equifax, among others. According to Equifax’s report, the total dollar amount of first-mortgage originations during the first quarter … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales Augur Better Economic Growth Ahead

Posted on July 15, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Many signs are pointing to better growth ahead, led by consumer, or retail spending. Ex-auto ex-gas offers a gauge on underlying trends in consumer spending, as non-store retailers popped a 1.1 percent surge in the month which … Continue reading →

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Why Record Low Mortgages Rates?

Posted on July 13, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Mortgage applications increased 7.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending July 8, 2016. It’s a result of mortgage rates dropping to … Continue reading →

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Spring Employment Surges

Posted on July 12, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 287,000 in June, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday. It means last month’s 11,000 private payrolls was a ‘Yuge’ aberration. How … Continue reading →

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Q2 3% + GDP Growth Confirmed?

Posted on July 5, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The best news of last week was the ‘Yuge’ jump in consumer spending and manufacturing, which should signal a Yuge jump in Q2 GDP; perhaps to as much as 4 percent. Graph: Econoday That’s because consumers spending is … Continue reading →

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Why Did Brexit Happen?

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The shortest answer is the Great Recession and austerity policies of EU policymakers. The result will be a Lessor, or Little Britain, which was inevitable given the austerity policies greatholding sway in the EU. What austerity policies? … Continue reading →

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Builder Optimism Returning to Historical Levels

Posted on June 17, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner After holding steady for the past four months, builder confidence in the market for newly constructed single-family homes rose two points in June to a level of 60 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing … Continue reading →

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Who Are the Homeowners?

Posted on June 15, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The Atlanta Federal Reserve Bank just published a housing study entitled, “It’s Not Just Millennials Who Aren’t Buying Homes,” that breaks down homeownership by age and household status. And the results show that age and whether one … Continue reading →

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Consumers are Happier!

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The consumer is happier, at least, due mostly to higher wages, even if overall economic growth is lagging. Consumer sentiments and retail sales are rebounding after a punk first quarter. Corporations don’t want to invest in new plants … Continue reading →

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Are Most of US Fully Employed?

Posted on June 10, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the number of job openings was little changed at 5.8 million on the last business day of April, in its JOLTS report. (But that’s not exactly true, as it is up … Continue reading →

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