Category Archives: Economy

What Do the Latest Jobs Numbers Mean?

Financial FAQs The May employment report showed the economy slowing, but pundits may be jumping to conclusions. For though the unemployment rate rose to 8.2 percent in May from 8.1 percent the prior month, that was because 642,000 more began … Continue reading

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What to Do With Lowest Mortgage Rates in History?

The Mortgage Corner Mortgage rates are the lowest since the Mortgage Bankers Association survey began in the 1970s, at 3.91 percent for the conforming 30-year fixed rate, but actually lower with many lenders. I am seeing rates as low as … Continue reading

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What Happened to the Bush Tax Cuts?

Popular Economics Weekly The debt ceiling debate is about to begin again, and House Speaker Boehner has said he will continue to press for more tax cuts without raising additional revenues, reviving the possibility of more budget gridlock and credit … Continue reading

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Some Institutions Are Too Big To Succeed

Financial FAQs The conversation may change with JP Morgan Chase’s latest $2 plus billion faux pas. Instead of being too big to fail, we may find that the Wall Street behemoths in particular have become too big to succeed. That … Continue reading

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Housing Affordability at Record High

The Mortgage Corner Nationwide housing affordability hit a new record high for a second consecutive quarter in the first three months of this year, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI).  So much so, … Continue reading

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Builder Confidence Rises Five Points in May

The Mortgage Corner It may not seem like much in such a depressed real estate market, but builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained five points in May from a downwardly revised reading in the previous … Continue reading

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The War on Workers

Popular Economics Weekly We are seeing what can only be called a war on workers by Tea Party Republicans in particular. Who are workers? The 80 percent of consumers who are wage and salary earners. And they have not done … Continue reading

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Ryan Budget Punishes the Poorest—A Return to ‘Les Miserables’?

Popular Economics Weekly We know Victor Hugo’s message is alive and well when Paul Ryan’s latest budget proposal continues to punish the poorest for the sins of the wealthiest who caused the Great Recession, and have yet to be punished. … Continue reading

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We Can’t Stall the Recovery!

Financial FAQs It is really disgusting that there isn’t the political will to grow more jobs, both here and in Europe. And creating more jobs is the key to bringing us out of the deep hole of the Great Recession, … Continue reading

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Manufacturing Continues Expansion (So Austerity Not the Answer)

“Manufacturing continues to lead U.S. recovery”, said the April ISM manufacturing survey that measures overall manufacturing activity. “The PMI registered 54.8 percent, an increase of 1.4 percentage points from March’s reading of 53.4 percent, indicating expansion in the manufacturing sector … Continue reading

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