Category Archives: Weekly Financial News

Fed Now Fears a Recession

Posted on April 14, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs BEA.gov It is no longer lost on the Fed Governors that the record speed they have raised short-term interest is causing a possible recession. They have even said so in their just released minutes from the latest FOMC … Continue reading →

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Americans Still Fully Employed

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly MarketWatch The MarketWatch graph above shows why the US Federal Reserve keeps raising interest rates. The US unemployment rate dropped from 3.6 to 3.5 percent in March. It was 14.7 percent in April 2020. It was last … Continue reading →

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More Soft Landing News!

Posted on April 5, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The banking failures have begun to raise hopes the Fed will take a pause in its rate hikes. Now more signs of a weakening economy have added to that possibility, a real possibility the Fed will cease … Continue reading →

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Big Jump in 2023 Economic Growth?

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs BEA.gov Why the talk of a recession when predictions are for first quarter GDP growth as high as +3.2 percent? After fourth quarter 2022 GDP growth came in at 2.6 percent in the government’s final estimate (see graph), economists … Continue reading →

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Homebuyers on the Move Early

Posted on March 29, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The home-buying season has begun earlier this year from a large rise in existing-home and new-home sales. It looks like families are already on the move, including retirees and seniors downsizing to more humble quarters. Calculated Risk … Continue reading →

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It’s Time to Raise Fed Inflation Target

Posted on March 23, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly FREDavghrlypay In the light of the recent bank failures, and the Fed’s own missteps in fighting inflation, history is telling us that the Fed’s current 2 percent target rate for inflation is too low. Why? Because Federal … Continue reading →

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The Fed Should Reverse Course

Posted on March 21, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs FRED10yr The wild fluctuations of the 10-year Constant Maturity Treasury yield portrayed in the above St. Louis Fed graph should have alerted Federal Governors and Chairman Powell to the dangers of raising interest rates too precipitously. It is … Continue reading →

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Housing Market Recovery–Part II

Posted on March 18, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Calculate Risk Real estate continues its slight recovery with housing starts and new residential permits on the rise in February. Most of the action was in rental housing, as apartment construction is up 9.9 percent YoY in … Continue reading →

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What Is the Fed’s Next Move?

Posted on March 15, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly FREDcpi The retail Consumer Price Index rose from essentially zero in May 2020 to 8.9 percent YoY in June 2022. It has dropped to 6 percent in February, per the US Census Bureau’s latest inflation report. This … Continue reading →

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Will the Fed Pause Rates Sooner?

Posted on March 11, 2023 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly MarketWatch February’s very strong unemployment report has raised fears the Fed may go back to 0.50 percent rate hikes, or even 0.75 percent (which it did four times), because of the continuing strength of the labor market. … Continue reading →

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