Category Archives: Consumers

Fannie Mae, GSEs, Even More Important

Posted on May 5, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner With news that Fannie Mae, one of the GSEs now managed by the Federal Housing Finance Authority (and US Treasury) just showed a $1.1B profit in Q1, but must pass all of it profits to Treasury since … Continue reading →

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Bernie’s Economic Platform—Part II

Posted on May 4, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump won their respective Indiana primaries, and we know why. In February air-conditioner manufacturer Carrier, a wing of United Technologies, announced that beginning next year it will move its Indianapolis production to Mexico … Continue reading →

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Consumers Boost Q1 GDP Growth

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Consumer spending, largely on services, helped hold up first-quarter real GDP which came in at just 0.5 percent rate, but is still up 2 percent YoY. Consumer spending (personal consumption expenditures) rose at a 1.9 percent rate, … Continue reading →

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Fed Stays in Accommodative Mode

Posted on April 27, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly It looks like Janet Yellen’s Fed will continue to keep interest rates low this year, based on the latest FOMC press release. This is great news for the housing market, in particular, but not necessarily for consumers … Continue reading →

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Why Not More Homes For Sale?

Posted on April 26, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Many Realtors and economists have been asking this question. Why such a low housing inventory? Total existing-home sales jumped 5.1 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.33 million in March from a downwardly revised 5.07 million … Continue reading →

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Motor Vehicles, Housing Will Power 2016 Economy

Posted on April 21, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Even though Q1 2016 GDP growth looks weak for a number of reasons (such as lower exports and slumping oil prices that depress energy sector earnings), there are reasons it can go higher in 2016. Oil prices … Continue reading →

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Record Mortgage Originations in 2015, In Spite of FHFA

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner In addition to very large Consumer credit borrowing that rose $17.2 billion in February (but excludes mortgage lending), the number of new first mortgages increased to a post-recession high in 2015, according to new data from credit … Continue reading →

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Record Low Rates Spur Consumer Debt, But Not Spending

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Consumer credit rose a very large $17.2 billion in February with January revised higher to $14.9 billion, says the Federal Reserve. Nonrevolving credit, which are gains for vehicle financing and student loans, rose $14.2 billion and revolving … Continue reading →

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U.S. Nearing Full Employment?

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Are we approaching full employment will be the debate raging within the Federal Reserve and beyond this year. That’s because, “Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 215,000 in March, and the unemployment rate was little changed at … Continue reading →

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Why Such Dismay At Fed Chair Yellen’s Dovish Remarks?

Posted on March 31, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Janet Yellen gave another speech yesterday, and stocks and bonds rallied. So you would think the pundits would applaud her speech. But, no, with approximately half of the Fed Governors saying they want higher interest rates now, many … Continue reading →

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