Tag Archives: interest rates

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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Whose Inflation Is Too High?

The Mortgage Corner Declining inflation has stalled in the first quarter, which is hurting prospects for any Fed rate cuts, and causing consumers to buy less. The inflation rate is currently stuck in the 3 percent range, though much lower … Continue reading →

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What Should the Fed Do?

Popular Economics Weekly The big surprise at Federal Reserve Chairman Powell’s last press conference was despite strong job numbers and inflation still above the Fed’s 2 percent target rate, the Fed governors are acting more dovish. Why? They don’t want … Continue reading →

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March Payrolls Soaring

Popular Economics Weekly I said last week I don’t believe Wall Street investors are irrationally exuberant at present, contrary to those that say we are now in a stock market bubble with the record level S&P and DOW indexes. That’s … Continue reading →

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Fourth Quarter Growth Even Better

The Mortgage Corner Economic growth is picking up and the housing market is following suit, which means the post-pandemic recovery is looking even better this year. The final reading of Q4 2023 U.S. Gross Domestic Product growth adjusted for inflation … Continue reading →

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It’s A Soft Landing

Popular Economics Weekly A terrific February employment report is further evidence the US economy has made a soft landing. FREDemployment Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 275,000 in February, and the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 3.9 percent from … Continue reading →

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High Productivity the Key

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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No Recession Next Year?

Financial FAQs Fortune Magazine has come up with the most interesting reasons for a looming recession in a recent edition. “Here are six reasons why a recession remains Bloomberg Economics’ base case. They range from the wiring of the human … Continue reading →

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It Wasn’t the Fed

Popular Economics Weekly What more does Chairman Powell and the Federal Reserve Governors need to know to announce the inflation battle has been won? Its preferred inflation indicator has shown zero monthly increases for two months. The rate of U.S. … Continue reading →

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How Low Can Interest Rates Go?

The Mortgage Corner Stocks and bonds are rallying after Chairman Powell sounded dovish for the first time at his December press conference following their last FOMC meeting of the year. “The question of when it will be appropriate to begin … Continue reading →

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