Tag Archives: consumer spending

US Consumers Are Happy Again

Popular Economics Weekly US consumers are feeling good, with higher confidence and rising wages pushing demand for housing and consumer spending. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose a huge 4.4 points to 101.3 in August. It has been hovering … Continue reading

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Home Sales, Consumer Confidence Still Rising

The Mortgage Corner Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 3.5 percent in June from an upwardly revised May reading to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 592,000 units, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing … Continue reading

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Spring Employment Surges

Popular Economics Weekly Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 287,000 in June, and the unemployment rate rose to 4.9 percent, said the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Friday. It means last month’s 11,000 private payrolls was a ‘Yuge’ aberration. How … Continue reading

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Q2 3% + GDP Growth Confirmed?

Financial FAQs The best news of last week was the ‘Yuge’ jump in consumer spending and manufacturing, which should signal a Yuge jump in Q2 GDP; perhaps to as much as 4 percent. Graph: Econoday That’s because consumers spending is … Continue reading

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Consumers are Happier!

Financial FAQs The consumer is happier, at least, due mostly to higher wages, even if overall economic growth is lagging. Consumer sentiments and retail sales are rebounding after a punk first quarter. Corporations don’t want to invest in new plants … Continue reading

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Why Too Little Inflation?

Financial FAQs Where’s the inflation? It is barely rising, as consumers still wait for bargains, before they decide to buy. The overall Consumer Price Index in April rose just 1.1 percent, and is up 2.1 percent less food and energy … Continue reading

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Housing Affordability Improving

The Mortgage Corner Spurred by a modest reduction in mortgage interest rates and favorable home prices, nationwide housing affordability in the first quarter of 2016 posted a slight increase, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity … Continue reading

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Fed Stays in Accommodative Mode

Popular Economics Weekly It looks like Janet Yellen’s Fed will continue to keep interest rates low this year, based on the latest FOMC press release. This is great news for the housing market, in particular, but not necessarily for consumers … Continue reading

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Record Low Rates Spur Consumer Debt, But Not Spending

The Mortgage Corner Consumer credit rose a very large $17.2 billion in February with January revised higher to $14.9 billion, says the Federal Reserve. Nonrevolving credit, which are gains for vehicle financing and student loans, rose $14.2 billion and revolving … Continue reading

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Why Is the Fed Waiting For Inflation?

Popular Economics Weekly The Federal Reserve should stick with a “wait-and-see monetary response” absent more evidence of sustainable inflation gripping the U.S. economy, Chicago Fed President Charles Evans said Tuesday. That seems to be Fed Chairwoman Yellen’s response to current … Continue reading

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