Tag Archives: Economy

Q2 Economic Growth Is…?

Financial FAQs Estimates of 2024 second quarter economic growth have been all over the map, but I will attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff, so to speak. Firstly, GDP growth is mostly dependent on consumer spending, which makes … Continue reading

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Fewer Jobs, Lower Rates?

Popular Economics Weekly June’s unemployment report was weaker than expected. It looks like the labor market is slowing enough to convince the Fed that interest rates should come down. Not only fewer nonfarm payroll jobs were added to payrolls, but … Continue reading

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U.S. Economy Still Too Hot?

Financial FAQs The battle is intensifying between the Fed Governors’ inflation doves and hawks as we approach November. Chairman Powell says inflation is getting closer to the Fed’s 2 percent target when we enter the 3rd quarter 2024, but he’s … Continue reading

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Consumers Not So Confident?

The Mortgage Corner What are we to make of the Conference Board’s latest confidence survey? “The decline in confidence between May and June was centered on consumers aged 35-54. By contrast, those under 35 and those 55 and older saw … Continue reading

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How Do We Solve It?

The Mortgage Corner I speak of the housing shortage, as much as 2 million residential units—owner-occupied and rental units—according to housing economists. What is to be done with mortgage rates at historic highs and material shortages everywhere? Much of it … Continue reading

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Retail Sales Falter–What May Follow?

Financial FAQs American consumers are tiring after two years of no relief from higher prices and interest rates. They are now looking for bargains everywhere in the latest retail sales report from the Census Bureau. It’s the second month of … Continue reading

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No More Inflation?

Popular Economics Weekly It will probably be hard to believe for those scarred by the post-pandemic inflation scare that inflation isn’t declining, but there was no inflation increase in May for both wholesale (PPI) and retail (CPI) inflation indexes. Yes, … Continue reading

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Where’s the Recession–Part II?

Financial FAQs The unemployment report for May had little weakness, further evidence that the recent Harris poll results—in which 55 percent of those surveyed believed the US is in a recession—doesn’t reflect reality. In fact, total nonfarm payroll employment increased … Continue reading

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Fed’s Preferred Inflation Indicator Softens

Popular Economics Weekly The latest economic data show the US economy slowed in Q1 2024, but economic growth should increase in the second quarter because consumers will continue to spend. Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), the best measure of overall consumer … Continue reading

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Where’s the Recession?

Financial FAQs The most recent Harris-Guardian poll found 56 percent of those surveyed thought the US was in a recession. And 49 percent believed unemployment was at a 50-year high. How is that possible when the economic facts are exactly … Continue reading

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