Category Archives: Economy

A Softer Landing for Inflation?

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly FREDcpi Will inflation keep rising, squeezing consumers, or return to a more normal range this year? The Consumer Price Index (CPI) that measures retail goods rose to 7.1 percent in December and has forced the Fed to … Continue reading →

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We Are So Close to Full Employment

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly MarketWatch It is uncanny that just 199,000 nonfarm payroll jobs were created in one Labor Department establishment survey, while a separate and smaller household survey showed that 651,000 people found jobs in December after a 1.1 million … Continue reading →

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Are Home Prices Moderating?

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner There are small signs of a slowdown in the rise of housing prices. Core Logic, a real estate data provider, sees some moderation in this New Year. “As we close 2021, housing market indicators, including S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Index, … Continue reading →

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Hires Increase in November JOLTS Report

Posted on January 4, 2022 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Calculated Risk The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that job openings decreased in November to 10.6 million from 11.1 million in October (yellow line in above graph). It’s a sign that more workers are returning to work. So … Continue reading →

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This Inflation Can’t Last

Posted on December 20, 2021 by Popular Economics Weekly

FREDcpi Why the feverish speculation that higher inflation could last beyond next year, and dampen economic growth, when the American economy should otherwise return to a semblance of normalcy? The COVID-induced recession of 2020 lasted just two months and caused … Continue reading →

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Are Interest Rates Too Low?

Posted on December 11, 2021 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Should home buyers worry about the record-low interest rates in the near or distant future? Because interest rates are at post-World War II lows, the super cheap money is helping to drive up annual home price rates into … Continue reading →

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Has COVID-19 Made US Richer?

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs FREDdisposalbleincome More Americans are richer, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, believe it nor not. The pandemic has spurred congress and the Biden administration to act as if we are coming out of another Great Depression. The U.S. is … Continue reading →

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Are We Nearing Full Employment?

Posted on December 3, 2021 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Calculated Risk Are we nearing full employment, at least among of those that want to return to work? That may be a strange question to ask when the just-arrived Omicron COVID variant is creating more uncertainty about … Continue reading →

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Americans are Returning to Work

Posted on December 1, 2021 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs FREDselfemployed Why aren’t more Americans returning to their old jobs? Many are becoming self-employed, thanks to the pandemic that encourages more work from home, and the Internet with its many marketing opportunities. The Wall Street Journal reports that … Continue reading →

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Does America Care Again?

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs PEW Research The American Rescue Plan, The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the soon to pass Build Back Better Plan show that the American ‘can do’ spirit is alive, the innate generosity and optimism that is so … Continue reading →

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