Tag Archives: interest rates

January Existing Home Sales, Mortgage Applications Dip

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Oh, the winter freeze! It seems to put the housing market into a deep freeze, as well. Total existing-home sales, completed transactions that include single-family homes, townhomes, condominiums and co-ops, fell 4.9 percent to a seasonally adjusted … Continue reading →

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Conference Board’s Leading Economic Indicators Near Highs

Posted on December 19, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Financial FAQs The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® (LEI) for the U.S. increased 0.6 percent in November to 105.5 (2004 = 100), following a 0.6 percent increase in October, and a 0.8 percent increase in September. It is a further … Continue reading →

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Retail Sales Portend +4 Percent GDP in 2015

Posted on December 15, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We have said that the prospect of higher interest rates next year may spur some extraordinary growth over the next few quarters, and just out holiday retail sales seem to be fulfilling that prophecy.  Consumer spending is … Continue reading →

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Will 2014 Be Best Employment Year Since 1999?

Posted on December 5, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Calculated Risk’s Bill McBride has just come out with a noteworthy prediction. This could be the best year for private employment since 1999. “The consensus is the economy will add another 220 thousand jobs in November (215 … Continue reading →

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GDP Growth Higher, Case-Shiller Prices Steady

Posted on December 1, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The economy in the second and third quarters posted its best back-to-back growth in 11 years, And the Conference Board’s Index of Leading Economic Indicators showed strong growth over the next six months. offering fresh evidence that … Continue reading →

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Deflation Is Now Major Concern

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We wrote recently about the Eurozone in danger of becoming Japan, which has suffered through some 2 decades of a deflationary spiral, before Prime Minister Abe opened the stimulus spigots. Why is deflation (or disinflation, which is … Continue reading →

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Employment Up, Interest Rates Falling Again

Posted on October 2, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly We are still in the Goldilocks economy—it’s not too hot or too cold. In fact, there is enough geopolitical unrest (now it’s the Hong Kong youth protests against China’s hardliners) to drive down interest rates, and boost … Continue reading →

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Pending-Home Sales Decline Slightly

Posted on October 1, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, fell 1.0 percent to 104.7 in August from 105.8 in July, and is now 2.2 percent below August 2013 (107.1). Despite the slight decline, the … Continue reading →

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Consumer Confidence In A ‘Goldilocks’ Economy

Posted on July 31, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

Popular Economics Weekly Once upon a time, the U.S. was considered to have a “Goldilocks” economy that was neither too hot nor too cold; where inflation was moderate, yet there was full employment. This last happened in the late 1990s … Continue reading →

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Why Such Low Interest Rates?

Posted on July 17, 2014 by Popular Economics Weekly

The Mortgage Corner Fixed 30-year conforming interest rates have once again dropped slightly below 4 percent for a 1 pt. origination fee in California, after being as high as 4.50 percent earlier this year. Why the drop when most economic … Continue reading →

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