Category Archives: Weekly Financial News

Why the Summer Growth Slowdown?

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The summer growth numbers seem weak, and pundits are saying it’s due to the European recession (so lower exports), the ‘fiscal cliff’(employers uncertain about future growth), and consumers with too much debt. But the numbers really show a … Continue reading →

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HARP 2.0 Leads Mortgage Refinance Higher

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner There is growing optimism that the real estate bust is finally at an end. The cause is a combination of record low interest rates leading to more refinance activity and increasing confidence of consumers in the economic … Continue reading →

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Consumers Becoming Healthier—Part II

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Consumers seem to be doing better, as I said last week, in spite of their worries about jobs, the economy and budget deficits (their own more than governments’). Consumer credit jumped $17.1 billion in May for the largest … Continue reading →

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What Do June Jobs Numbers Mean?

Posted on July 12, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Is history repeating itself? Once more the June jobs numbers don’t look so good, but once more they will probably be misleading. Because, once more, it looks like the so-called seasonal adjustments (SA) are overestimating the summer jobs … Continue reading →

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Home Prices Up, New-Home Sales Surging

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 7.6 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 369,000 units in May, according to newly released data from HUD and the U.S. Census Bureau. Why are new-home sales important? … Continue reading →

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Builder Confidence Highest Since 2007

Posted on June 21, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Builder confidence in the market for newly built, single-family homes gained one point in June from a slightly revised level in the previous month to rest at 29 on the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing … Continue reading →

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Housing Recovery Has Begun

Posted on June 16, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner This may be the brashest of predictions. Can residential real estate prices actually be recovering? Yes, as housing inventories decline. The National Association of Realtors just reported on the national level, inventory of for-sale single family homes, … Continue reading →

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What Do the Latest Jobs Numbers Mean?

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

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?

Posted on June 6, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

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?

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

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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