Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

Another Housing Recession?

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The 30-year conforming fixed rate has again risen above 7 percent in just one month, and the effect is immediate. Housing construction has slowed once again, in spite of the severe housing shortage. Construction is 14.8 percent … Continue reading →

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High Productivity the Key

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs There is a major reason the US economy is doing well in so many ways—with plunging inflation, surging consumer spending, and the highest economic growth of developed countries—that is often overlooked in economic reports. Labor productivity has been … Continue reading →

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Slower Retail Sales, Lower Inflation?

Posted on February 16, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The New Year is proving to have lots of ups and downs as consumer spending slows from the holidays. Tax season is afoot, of course, a time when consumers tend to save more and spend less. That’s why … Continue reading →

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Why the Inflation Debate?

Posted on February 14, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner This month’s Consumer Price index looked hotter at first glance, but it wasn’t. It was slightly cooler, so there was no real reason for yesterday’s 500 pt. plunge in the DOW. That’s where the debate is raging … Continue reading →

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Inflation Still Too High?

Posted on February 9, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs In an excellent piece in MarketWatch, Jeffry Bartash quoted Fed Chair Powell on remarks he made last week in a 60 Minutes interview. Why do Americans still seem unhappy with the economy in many surveys? “People are going … Continue reading →

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US Economy Has Landed–Part II

Posted on February 2, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly I said last week there’s no longer any doubt the US economy has made a soft landing because the economy grew 3.3 percent in Q4 2023 and 3.1 percent for the year. The first look at employment … Continue reading →

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Interest Rates About To Fall?

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Fed Chair Jerome Powell was as ambiguous as ever at yesterday’s post-FOMC press conference. He reported the Fed Governors decided no more rate hikes were warranted, but they needed to be more confident that inflation had been tamed … Continue reading →

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US Economy Has Landed

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly There is no longer any doubt with the initial estimate of fourth quarter GDP growth just in. The US economy has made a soft landing. The economy grew 3.3 percent in Q4 after a 4.9 percent increase … Continue reading →

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First Signs of Deflation Appearing

Posted on January 13, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Today’s Producer Price Index for Final Demand, a measure of the cost of wholesale prices, provides the first concrete evidence that we may be entering a period of deflation this New Year. And, perhaps require the Fed … Continue reading →

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Please Get Inflation Picture Right!

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Today’s news that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was “slightly hotter than expected”, per the Wall Street Journal, caused financial markets to plunge on the assumption the Fed will reduce interest rates more slowly than markets would like … Continue reading →

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