Category Archives: Weekly Financial News

Mortgage Delinquency and Foreclosure Rates Lowest Since 2007

The Mortgage Corner The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.85 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the third quarter of 2014. This is approaching the historical … Continue reading

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Retail Sales, Consumer Sentiment Boosting Holiday Cheer

Popular Economics Weekly Retail Sales are growing again, and U. of Michigan survey of consumer sentiment is also spiking at the right time of year for holiday sales. That’s because job openings and hires in the September JOLTS report are … Continue reading

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California’s Budget Surplus Leads to Credit Upgrade

Popular Economics Weekly A day after voters passed Proposition 2, which creates a “rainy day fund” to cushion the state budget from future economic downturns, major credit-rating house Standard & Poor’s on Wednesday upgraded California’s general obligation bond rating. S&P … Continue reading

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Jobless Rate Falls to 5.8 Percent—Why be unhappy?

Financial FAQs Weekly Nonfarm payroll jobs advanced 214,000 in October after gaining 256,000 September and 203,000 in August. Net revisions for August and September were up 31,000. The unemployment rate dipped to 5.8 percent in October from 5.9 percent in … Continue reading

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Bullies, Not Government Is the Problem

Financial FAQs Weekly Even though the U.S. economy grew by a 3.5 percent annual rate in the third quarter, boosted by a surge in exports and the biggest jump in federal spending in five years, Democrats don’t seem to be … Continue reading

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Government Spending Boosts Q3 GDP

Popular Economics Weekly WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The U.S. economy grew by a 3.5 percent annual rate in the third quarter, fueled by a surge in exports and the biggest jump in federal spending in five years, screamed one headline this … Continue reading

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Consumer Confidence Soaring, Case-Shiller Home Prices Unchanged

Popular Economics Weekly Why are stock prices rallying?  Maybe it’s because though housing price increases have slowed, consumer confidence is soaring for the holidays.  The prospect for future job and income growth looks good, in other words Home prices contracted … Continue reading

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Pending and New-Home Sales Looking Up

The Mortgage Corner Sales of new single-family houses are barely budging from their recession lows. But pending home sales for September nudged up to the highest this year, which is a sign that record low interest rates are bringing buyers … Continue reading

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California’s Fracking Controversy

Financial FAQs Santa Barbara voters have an upcoming ballot measure that bans all forms of enhanced drilling techniques, including steam injection and fracking, and it is getting national attention. Fracking supporters tout the huge boost in national oil and gas … Continue reading

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Existing-Home Sales Highest in Year

The Mortgage Corner The National Association of Realtors reports total existing-home sales, which are completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, increased 2.4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.17 million in September from 5.05 … Continue reading

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