Tag Archives: interest rates

What Is the Future of Interest Rates?

Posted on November 15, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The deficit is moving to the back burner with Donald Trump and congressional Republicans in charge of Washington, and that is causing interest rates to rise quickly. Republicans leaders on Capitol Hill are now papering over divisions … Continue reading →

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Will Low Interest Rates Continue?

Posted on October 13, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner This question is behind much of the stock and bond market gyrations. We are near full employment with a 5.0 percent unemployment rate, some 11 million jobs created since the end of the Great Recession, yet we … Continue reading →

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Jobs Report—Not Yet Full Employment

Posted on October 10, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly The unemployment rate rose slightly to 5 percent for the first time since April, the government said Friday, though that was mainly because 444,000 people entered the labor force. There are still too many unemployed, in other … Continue reading →

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Motor Vehicle Sales Boost Retail, Manufacturing

Posted on October 7, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs One of the first hard indications on the September economy is strongly positive as overall unit vehicle sales surged 4.7 percent to a 17.7 million annualized rate. This will boost the vehicle component of the September retail sales … Continue reading →

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Much More Housing Needed

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner There’s an exception to the current low inflation prognostications echoed in my column by the San Francisco Fed Prez John Williams. It’s in housing, which is struggling to meet the surging demand for both new homes and … Continue reading →

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A Record Year For Mortgages?

Posted on July 19, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner First quarter mortgage numbers are in, and we could be having a very good year for mortgage originations, says Equifax, among others. According to Equifax’s report, the total dollar amount of first-mortgage originations during the first quarter … Continue reading →

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Record Mortgage Originations in 2015, In Spite of FHFA

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner In addition to very large Consumer credit borrowing that rose $17.2 billion in February (but excludes mortgage lending), the number of new first mortgages increased to a post-recession high in 2015, according to new data from credit … Continue reading →

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Record Low Rates Spur Consumer Debt, But Not Spending

Posted on April 7, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

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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Construction Boosted By Public Works, Offices

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner We are already seeing the results of the $1.1T budget agreement, and $305 STIRR Surface Transportation and Highway Trust Fund bill. Construction spending rose a strong 1.5 percent in January due to a surge in highway & … Continue reading →

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2016 Housing Update

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner What should happen to U.S. housing in 2016, with interest rates at record lows and a healthy job market? Much will depend on population growth, and in particular the newest largest generation of all—the millennials, or Gen … Continue reading →

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