Category Archives: Weekly Financial News

Such Pessimism is Unwarranted—Who Should Rescue Housing?

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Popular Economics Weekly Why is it so many pundits—and some economists—continue to be pessimistic about 2012 growth? Business and Wall Street economists in particular are predicting just 2 percent GDP growth for all of 2012, according to a recent … Continue reading →

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Mortgage Applications-Builder Optimism Rising

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Are homebuyers and borrowers finally realizing that mortgage rates might not fall much further? We are seeing a huge jump in both mortgage and builder activity, and much of the most recent interest rate drop has been … Continue reading →

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More Jobs Key to 2012 Growth

Posted on January 13, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly How do we know what to look for in 2012? We should not be looking at the headlines, which tend to trumpet totally conflicting news. But more accurate information is available—usually several months later. For instance, jobs’ … Continue reading →

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Can the Fed Rescue Real Estate?

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner How can we thank Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke for keeping our economy afloat? Not only has the Fed kept interest rates low enough to prevent actual deflation, as happened to Japan over the past 20 years and … Continue reading →

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Will Real Estate Recover in 2012?

Posted on January 4, 2012 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The recovery road may remain bumpy for real estate in 2012 but construction spending continues to increase from low levels of activity, and so housing starts. Much of it is multi-family apartments going to both new households … Continue reading →

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2012 Will Be Better

Posted on December 29, 2011 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The elements seem to be in place for a better 2012 economy, despite the euro worries, budget deficits, and 8.6 percent jobless rate. Why?  Banks are lending again, and it was the tight bank credit after bursting … Continue reading →

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Will Younger Generation Rescue Real Estate?

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Privately-owned housing starts in November rose to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 685,000, which combined with increasing builder sentiment is a sign that children of the baby boomers—the so-called Boomerang or echo boomer generation—may finally be … Continue reading →

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Consumers Regaining Financial Health

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Consumers are spending for the holidays. Retail sales in particular have rebounded to almost pre-recession levels. Overall retail sales in November grew 0.2 percent, following a 0.6 percent boost in October (originally up 0.5 percent) and a … Continue reading →

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2011—The Year That Wasn’t

Posted on December 11, 2011 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly What do we make of this year’s economy, with its ups and downs that have confused even the ‘experts’; and what to make of 2012? Believe it or not, the congressional gridlock that caused the S&P Treasury … Continue reading →

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Austerity (That) Doesn’t Work

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs It turns out that austerity doesn’t work, when it means tax cuts for the wealthy but spending (and so income) cuts for the rest of US. But austerity does work when applied to the wealthiest who have used … Continue reading →

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