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

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

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

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

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

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

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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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 18th, 2019

Last week’s economic reports included readings on retail sales, inflation and construction spending. New home sales Consumer sentiment readings were posted along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and first-time jobless claims. Retail Sales Increase after Lowest Reading in 10 Years Retail sales rose by 0.20 percent in January; analysts expected an increase of 0.10 percent based on December’s negative revised reading of -1.60 percent. Home centers and internet retailers led in overall sales; retail sales without the automotive sector were higher with an 0.90 percent increase in January, which exceeded expectations of an 0.40 percent increase. December had a…
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What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – March 11h, 2019

Last week's economic news included readings on new home sales, construction spending, and housing starts. Data on building permits was released along with Labor Department reports on public and private-sector jobs and the national unemployment rate. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Construction Spending Slows as New Home Sales Rise in December Commerce Department data for December indicated less construction spending than for November. Construction spending dipped by -o.60 percent as compared to analyst expectations of a negative reading of -0.30 percent. Construction spending grew by 0.90 percent in November. Lower cash outlays for…
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