The odds that the Federal Reserve will cut benchmark interest rates again in December are still high — but not as high as they were before last week’s cut. As of Monday, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool, 70% of interest rate traders are anticipating another 25-basis-point pullback after the Fed’s final meeting of […]
Another Fed rate cut to finish 2025? Not so fast Read More »
Happy lowest-mortgage-rate-of-the-year day on this Halloween week! Mortgage rates are currently at a yearly low right before the Fed meets so the question is: will Fed Chair Jerome Powell ruin the good news right before Halloween festivities? Whatever Powell says tomorrow, mortgage rates are behaving differently than they did last year at this time. Last
Will the Fed ruin the lowest mortgage rates of 2025? Read More »
Key insight: Inflation cooled slightly but continued upward in September, climbing 0.3% after August’s 0.4% gain. Supporting data: Prices rose 3.0% year over year, tracking with the increase in core CPI. Gasoline jumped 4.1%, while shelter rose 0.2%, its smallest gain since early 2021. Forward look: The results reinforce expectations that the Fed will proceed
Inflation up modestly in September; Fed on track for cut Read More »
Housing inventory at one point this year showed 33% year-over-year growth, but that growth has since slowed to 17%, and we might already have seen the seasonal peak in inventory for the year in the first week of August. I didn’t believe we were witnessing the peak in August and I have been looking for
Did housing inventory peak in August this year? Read More »
Jobs week ended with an eerie silence, as the government remains shut down and we didn’t receive the last two major reports for the week. Given that job growth has been slowing dramatically this year, it’s time to examine what is really going on. For me, the situation is straightforward: over the past 24 months,
What we know about the labor market, even without Jobs Friday data Read More »
Key insight: Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson described a delicate balancing act, supporting moderate rate cuts to protect jobs while keeping long-term inflation under control. Supporting data: GDP growth slowed to 1.6% in the first half of 2025, and tariffs are nudging prices higher as long-term expectations remain anchored. Forward look: Jefferson emphasized durable inflation
Jefferson signals cautionary stance on tariffs, labor and rate path Read More »
As home prices and mortgage rates continue to stretch budgets, many would-be homebuyers are wondering if they’ll ever be able to make the jump. Industry professionals say that creative financing tools and professional guidance can make homeownership more attainable, but a lack of awareness continues to stand in the way. Three voices from different corners
Help exists for cash-strapped homebuyers — but many don’t know it Read More »
Household income in the U.S. rose slightly in 2024, but the picture looks very different depending on where you live. The national median income reached $83,730 last year, up 1.3% from 2023, according to a new report from online fintech company SmartAsset. That modest increase failed to keep pace with the roughly 3% inflation rate,
Household income climbs in some big cities, outweighed by inflation in others Read More »
The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday, setting the target range at 4% to 4.25%. The first cut since December 2024 marks a new phase in the central bank’s effort to balance maximum employment and stable prices. Economists say it could usher in an easing cycle with direct
Fed cuts rates by 25 bps as inflation lingers, labor market weakens Read More »
Mortgage rates have reached a new low for 2025, despite the Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation being well above the target and showing a stronger increase in the core goods component. Why are mortgage rates at 6.27%? Jobless claims experienced a significant spike today, which suggests that the labor market may not be as strong
Mortgage rates hit new 2025 low as jobless claims spike Read More »