Category: Business & Markets

• June 27, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

Treasury yields headed higher after European Central Bank President Mario Draghi hinted that the factors suppressing inflation would be short-lived, giving traders the impression the central bank intends to wind down its quantitative easing program by the end of the year.

• June 27, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index rose 5.7% in the three-month period ending in April compared to a year ago, down two ticks from the 5.9% annual gain notched in March. Economists had expected the 20-City index to increase 5.9% for the year.

• May 11, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

U.S. producer prices showed a broad-based gain in April, which pushed the annual increase up to the largest gain in five years, government data showed. The Labor Department said on Thursday its producer price index for final demand rose 0.5% last month. That was above expectations. Economists surveyed had predicted the producer price index would

• May 11, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

The number of people receiving jobless benefits fell to the lowest level in 28 years, the Labor Department said Thursday, a further sign of a healthy labor market. Initial claims slipped 2,000 to a seasonally adjusted 236,000 for the week ended May 6, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Claims have now been below 300,000,

• June 27, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

June Consumer Confidence 118.9 vs. estimates of 116.7Consumer and business confidence, which spiked after the election, has remained near these high levels, though both readings have gotten less attention from markets of late as the story there hasn’t changed. Additionally, both these surges were seen as potential harbingers of increased consumer spending or business investment,

• May 11, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

Treasury prices slipped, pushing up yields, after producer prices rose and continued jobless claims sank to its lowest levels in more than 28 years, setting up the Federal Reserve to hike rates in preparation for higher inflation.

• May 12, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

Consumers continue to shift shopping patterns online. Sales at U.S. retailers rose in April, and March sales were stronger than originally estimated, painting a stronger picture of American consumers than previously reported. Retail sales increased 0.4%, the Commerce Department said Friday, and were 4.5% higher compared to a year ago. A 0.2% monthly decline for

• June 28, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

An early look at U.S. trade patterns in May points to a small decline in the nation’s trade deficit. The advanced trade gap in goods — services are excluded — fell by 1.8% to $65.9 billion in May

• May 12, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

Core index up 0.1%, softer than expected U.S. consumer prices rebounded in April, bolstering the Federal Reserve’s case for continued interest rate hikes. The consumer price index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.2% in April because of higher energy costs, the Labor Department said Friday. This followed a 0.3% drop in the prior month. Energy prices

• June 28, 2017
• no comment
• realestatelife

Home purchase contract signings declined again in May, another sign of the headwinds working against momentum in the housing market. The pending home sales index from the National Association of Realtors slid 0.8%, marking the third-straight monthly decline. The index hit 108.5 in May and its April level was revised lower. It was lower compared