Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

April Employment Up, Q1 Consumer Spending Weak

Posted on May 6, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 211,000 in April, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.4 percent from 4.5 percent in March, reported the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics today. Job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, health … Continue reading →

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Why the Weak March Employment Report?

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The good news is the unemployment rate fell to 4.5 percent, and number of unemployed persons (i.e., available for work) declined by 326,000 to 7.2 million. Both measures were improved numbers over the year. But just 98,000 … Continue reading →

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Consumer Confidence Highest In 16 Years

Posted on March 28, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index soared to its highest level in 16 years. Its Consumer Confidence Index®, which had already increased in February, improved again in March. The Index now stands at 125.6 (1985=100), up from 116.1 … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales, Inflation, Interest Rates Rising

Posted on March 15, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Gasoline prices pulled down February’s retail sales, falling 0.6 percent after rising 2.1 percent in January. But when excluding volatile autos and gasoline prices, sales rose 0.2 percent vs January’s very strong 1.1 percent. And control group sales, … Continue reading →

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Strong Jobs Report = Rising Interest Rates

Posted on March 10, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Economists are almost unanimous that the Fed will raise their short term rates at next week’s FOMC meeting. This is because total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 235,000 in February, and the unemployment rate fell slightly to … Continue reading →

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Home Sales Reach 10-year High

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Existing-home sales ran at a seasonally adjusted annual pace of 5.69 million, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday. That was 3.3 percent above an upwardly-revised 5.51 million in December and 3.8 percent higher than a year ago. … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales and Consumer Prices Show Real Life

Posted on February 15, 2017 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs Retail sales rose 0.4 percent last month following a much bigger gain in December than originally reported, the government said Wednesday. Economists polled had forecast a 0.2 percent increase. Retail sales are now up more than 5 percent … Continue reading →

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Janet Yellen and The Fed’s Rate Hike(s)

Posted on December 16, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The Federal Reserve on Wednesday raised a key U.S. interest rate for the first time in a year and signaled a more aggressive approach in 2017, when incoming president Donald Trump plans a so-called ‘full-throttle’ strategy to … Continue reading →

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4.6% Unemployment–178,000 Payroll Jobs in November

Posted on December 3, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Nonfarm payrolls rose 178,000 in November to just beat out expectations with revisions no factor, says Econoday. A sharp downward revision to October, now at 142,000, was offset by a nearly as sharp upward revision to September, … Continue reading →

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GDP Growth, Consumer Confidence Soar

Posted on November 29, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The economy grew at the fastest pace in over two years in the third quarter, as consumers, business investment and government increased spending. Gross domestic product expanded at a 3.2 percent annual rate in the Commerce Department’s second … Continue reading →

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