Category Archives: Housing

U.S. Economy Has Landed

Posted on August 24, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly GETTY It’s about time. Fed Chairman Powell has finally admitted in so many words that the U.S. economy made a ‘soft landing’; economists’ term for inflation to have declined sufficiently that the Fed can begin to ease … Continue reading →

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When Will Housing Recover?

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner With the Federal Reserve saying it is about to cut rates, will the housing sector finally come out of its own recession? All the indicators of housing health—existing-home sales, new-home sales, construction, and for sale inventories—are at … Continue reading →

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Much Improved Q2 Economic Growth

Posted on July 25, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Today’s second quarter Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew 2.8 percent, double first quarter’s 1.4 percent, which will give a huge boost to confidence that no recession is imminent, but also enough ammunition for the inflation hawks that say … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales Falter

Posted on July 16, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Fed Chair Powell has said it again. Second-quarter economic data including last week’s consumer price report “do add somewhat” to confidence that inflation is heading down to the central bank’s 2 percent goal at an Economic Club … Continue reading →

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Prices Are Falling!

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Today could be historic for inflation watchers. It’s the first time since July 2022 that retail prices as measured by the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) have declined. It will be history making and effect the financial … Continue reading →

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Fewer Jobs, Lower Rates?

Posted on July 6, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly June’s unemployment report was weaker than expected. It looks like the labor market is slowing enough to convince the Fed that interest rates should come down. Not only fewer nonfarm payroll jobs were added to payrolls, but … Continue reading →

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How Do We Solve It?

Posted on June 21, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner I speak of the housing shortage, as much as 2 million residential units—owner-occupied and rental units—according to housing economists. What is to be done with mortgage rates at historic highs and material shortages everywhere? Much of it … Continue reading →

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No More Inflation?

Posted on June 13, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly It will probably be hard to believe for those scarred by the post-pandemic inflation scare that inflation isn’t declining, but there was no inflation increase in May for both wholesale (PPI) and retail (CPI) inflation indexes. Yes, … Continue reading →

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Whose Inflation Is Too High?

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Declining inflation has stalled in the first quarter, which is hurting prospects for any Fed rate cuts, and causing consumers to buy less. The inflation rate is currently stuck in the 3 percent range, though much lower … Continue reading →

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Q2 Economic Growth Any Better?

Posted on May 17, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The initial estimate of first quarter 2024 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was less than expected (1.6%), causing financial markets to panic, even though economic growth is better than the initial estimate is reporting, I said last … Continue reading →

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