Category Archives: Weekly Financial News

Housing Starts Rebound, For How Long?

Posted on July 20, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The Conference Board’s Index of Leading Indicators that predicts future growth says it is being boosted by a rebound in housing starts, which means more badly needed new homes being built. Its June report posted a 0.6 … Continue reading →

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Full Employment Here, But No Inflation?

Posted on July 14, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Bureau of Labor Statistic’s JOLTS Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey out Tuesday showed a huge boost in hiring and shrinkage of available jobs. What to make of it with almost nonexistent inflation, and the Fed’s Janet … Continue reading →

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Minimum Wage Raises Should Boost Employment, Spending

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Minimum wages are about to rise in several cities, and eventually states. San Francisco and Los Angeles minimums rose last weekend to $14 and $12 per hour, respectively, and ultimately to $15 per hour by 2021. But Seattle, … Continue reading →

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Great Employment Report

Posted on July 7, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The U.S. created 222,000 new jobs in June as hiring accelerated in the spring, showing that companies are still finding ways to add staff despite a growing shortage of skilled workers. The increase in new jobs was … Continue reading →

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Interest Rates On the Rise!

Posted on June 30, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Central Banks everywhere seem to be following our Federal Reserve in selling bonds they had accumulated to keep interest rates low for so long—in fact, since the end of the Great Recession. They also seem to be crossing … Continue reading →

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What Health Care System Do Americans Want?

Posted on June 29, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly This is a quiz. What country had the second-highest mortality from noncommunicable conditions — like diabetes, heart disease or violence — and the fourth highest from infectious disease? Also, what country has the highest chance of dying … Continue reading →

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Housing Shortage Continues

Posted on June 27, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner It was very good news that new-home sales rose nearly 3 percent in May to a 610,000 annualized rate. The report, always volatile, included a big upward revision to April which however, at 593,000, is still the … Continue reading →

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Consumers Not Shopping Anymore?

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly What has happened to second quarter economic growth? Economists had been predicting 3 percent plus GDP growth for Q2, but consumers are cutting back instead. Retail sales have fallen with inflation, not a good sign for demand, … Continue reading →

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Why Home Sales Rising Fast, Construction Lagging?

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner We are once again in a housing conundrum. May Existing-home sales just surged 1.1 percent to 5.62 million units, after falling for several months. And housing starts fell for the third straight month an unexpected 5.5 percent … Continue reading →

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Why Did Fed Raise Rates Again?

Posted on June 20, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly U.S. growth cycles have averaged about 8 years since WWII, yet the Federal Reserve just announced they were raising their overnight rate for the third time—to 1.25 percent. It also forecast that the unemployment rate could fall … Continue reading →

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