20 May 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 20th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on housing market conditions, housing starts and building permits issued. Consumer sentiment was reported along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. NAHB: Builder Confidence Rises in May, Housing Starts Increase in April The National Association of Home Builders Housing Market Index posted its highest reading in seven months in May as headwinds facing home construction waned. Lower mortgage rates were a positive sign. May's reading rose three points to 66; component readings also rose. The index of builder confidence in current housing market conditions…
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13 May 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 13th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic news included readings on job openings and inflation. Weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. April Inflation Falls Short of Expectations The Consumer Price Index for April fell by 0.10 percent to 0.30 percent. Analysts expected a reading of 0.40 percent, which hatched the March reading. The Core Consumer Price Index excludes volatile food and fuel sectors; core inflation grew by 0.10 percent in April, which matched the March reading and fell short of the expected growth rate of 0.20 percent. The Federal Reserve has set an annual inflation rate of 2.00…
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06 May 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – May 6th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic news brought good news to U.S. consumers on several fronts. Mortgage rates fell and national unemployment fell to its lowest rate in 50 years. Inflation slowed and the Federal Reserve held its target federal funds rate steady. Freddie Mac analysts credited strong labor markets, high consumer confidence and falling mortgage rates as factors setting the stage for more home sales. Pending Home Sales Rise as Construction Spending Falls The National Association of Realtors® reported higher pending home sales in March; home sales under contract but not completed rose 3.89 percent in March as compared to February's negative…
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29 Apr 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 29th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reporting included readings on sales of new and pre-owned homes; weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released along with a report on consumer sentiment. Sales of New Homes Hit 16-Month High The Commerce Department reported that deep discounts offered by home builders boosted sales of new single-family homes to 692,000 sales on a seasonally-adjusted annual basis. March sales exceeded February's reading by 4.50 percent and exceeded the expected sales pace of 656,000 sales. The average price of new single family homes fell to $302,700 in March; this was 9.70 percent lower year-over-year.…
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22 Apr 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 22nd, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic news included readings on home builder confidence in housing market conditions and Commerce Department reports on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage ratees and first-time jobless claims were also released. NAHB Housing Market Index: Builder Confidence Rises One Point in April Home Builder Confidence readings posted by the National Association of Home Builders held steady for April and rose one point overall. Component readings for the NAHB Housing Market Index were mixed; builder confidence in current housing market conditions rose one point to an index reading of 69, but builder confidence in housing…
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15 Apr 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 14th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic readings included reports on inflation, mortgage rates, and first-time jobless claims. Monthly reporting on consumer sentiment was delayed. Consumer Price Index: Inflation Rises in March The Consumer Price Index rose 0.40 percent in March, which matched expectations and surpassed February's month-to -month reading of 0.20 percent growth. The March reading showed the highest consumer price growth in 14 months; higher rents, fuel and food prices contributed to month-to-month price gains in March. The Core CPI excludes volatile food and energy sectors and was unchanged in March although 0.20 percent growth was expected. February's reading showed 0.10 percent…
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08 Apr 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 8th, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic news included readings on construction spending and inflation; labor sector reports on the national unemployment rate, public and private sector employment were also released. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Construction Spending Rises, Retail Sales Slip Construction spending expanded by one percent in February according to the Commerce Department spending was one percent higher month-to-month; analysts expected a negative reading of -0.10 percent. February saw a revised gain of 2.50 percent growth in construction spending. Construction spending grew 1.10 percent year-over-year; by comparison, 2016 construction spending reached 10 percent year-over-year. High demand…
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01 Apr 2019
By noelkelman

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – April 1st, 2019

Financial Reports, ,
Last week's economic reports included readings from Case-Shiller on home price growth, Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued. The Conference Board issued its monthly reading on consumer confidence. Pending home sales and weekly reports on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller Home Price Indices: Price Growth Slows in January S&P Case-Shiller Indices reported the slowest rate of home price growth in six years. January readings suggested that home price growth slowed due to easing demand. Affordability concerns sidelined buyers; participation of first-time home buyers remained lower than average. Case-Shiller's 20-City Home Price…
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