Eye On Housing
The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that mortgage rates on purchases of newly built homes rose by seven basis points over the month of May 2018 to 4.51 percent, marking the seventh consecutive monthly increase. However, information compiled by Freddie Mac suggests that mortgage rates may have taken a breather in June. Despite the two basis points decline in mortgage… Read More ›
As was widely expected, the Federal Open Markets Committee (FOMC), the monetary policy making arm of the Federal Reserve, raised the target federal funds rate to a range of 1.75 percent to 2.00 percent from a range of 1.5 percent to 1.75 percent. Going forward, the median projection of the federal funds rate at the end of this year rose,… Read More ›
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that consumer inflation rose by 0.2 percent in May, similar to its growth rate in April. Both food and energy prices decelerated over the month, but the slowdown in these items was offset by an acceleration in core CPI to 0.2 percent, from 0.1 percent in April. Over the year, headline inflation climbed… Read More ›
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that economic growth, measured by the annualized growth rate of real GDP, was revised to 2.2 percent from the advance estimate of 2.3 percent. The modest downward revision confirms the extent of economic growth over the first quarter of the year. The second estimate of first quarter GDP also included the first estimate… Read More ›
The Federal Reserve Board’s Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey showed that lending standards on commercial and industrial (C&I) loans eased over the first quarter of 2018. At the same time, lending standards on commercial real estate (CRE) loans tightened, but at a slower pace than last quarter. Importantly a net share of banks noted that demand for both C&I and… Read More ›
Following a decline in March, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer prices rose by 0.2 percent over the month of April, largely reflecting energy and food prices as well as shelter prices. Excluding energy and food prices, “core” inflation decelerated from 0.2 percent to 0.1 percent as shelter prices, which represent the largest share of the consumer price… Read More ›
According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), mortgage rates continue to rise and this is confirmed by data from Freddie Mac. The short end of the yield curve, which is most sensitive to monetary policy, has been the primary force behind the increase in mortgage rates. In recent years, short-term rates have put upward pressure on mortgage rates while… Read More ›
As was widely expected, the Federal Open Market Committee (“FOMC”), the monetary policy making body of the Federal Reserve, maintained the federal funds rate at a range of 1.50 to 1.75 percent following its meeting that convened on May 1-2, a rate it deems “accommodative”. Going forward, the FOMC expects that, with further gradual adjustments in the stance of monetary… Read More ›
In its first or “advance” estimate, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), reported that the nation’s economy, as measured by real gross domestic product (GDP), rose by 2.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted annual rate basis in the first quarter of 2018. This is the second consecutive quarter in which growth slowed. However, this is the fourth consecutive quarter in which… Read More ›
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that consumer inflation fell by 0.1 percent over the month of March 2018 following a 0.2 percent increase in February. This is first monthly decrease since May 2017. Energy prices fell by 3 percent over the month as gasoline prices were 4.9 percent lower than their level in February. In contrast, core CPI, which… Read More ›