The unemployment rate reached 4.6% today! Nevertheless, the Federal Reserve perceives current conditions as stable, allowing for a policy stance slightly above neutral since labor market deterioration has not yet occurred. Since late 2022, I have consistently argued that the Fed shifted its approach to maintaining a more restrictive policy throughout this cycle. I have […]
Why the Fed isn’t worried about the jobs data Read More »
Freddie Mac announced Tuesday that its board of directors has selected Kenny M. Smith as the company’s CEO. The move is effective Wednesday and Smith will also serve as a member of the board. Michael Hutchins, who assumed the interim CEO role in March 2025 following the departure of Diana Reid, will continue in his
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Even as higher material costs, labor constraints, economic uncertainty, and spottier consumer spending trends weigh on current renovation and remodeling projects, home improvement contractors remain optimistic. The Q4 Contractor Activity Tracker, released by The Farnsworth Group and Home Improvement Research Institute, concluded that confidence among home improvement contractors is relatively unchanged from a year ago.
Home improvement contractors remain cautiously optimistic Read More »