• August 28, 2017
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An early look at U.S. trade patterns in July points to a wider trade deficit. The advanced trade gap in goods — services are excluded — widened by 1.78% to $ 65.1 billion in July, the Commerce Department said Monday. Both exports and imports declined, but exports dropped at a faster pace in the month.

• August 25, 2017
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Dallas Fed President Rob Kaplan said that he supports a move to shrink the balance sheet as soon as possible. The Dallas Fed president signaled that another rate hike at the end of the year was not a given. He said the central bank could afford to be “patient” and see if inflation pressures pick

• August 25, 2017
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Orders for big-ticket U.S. good fell by the largest amount in three years in July, reversing a strong gain in the prior month, according to government data released Friday. The Commerce Department reported that orders for durable goods fell 6.8% in July, led by a sharp drop in volatile aircraft. It was the biggest decline

• August 24, 2017
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• realestatelife

July Existing Home Sales 5.44M vs. estimates of 5.57M.  Healthy level, but inventory shortages crimping stronger growth. Generally not a fact for interest rate pricing.

• August 24, 2017
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Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank President Esther George, along with other members of the U.S. Federal Reserve, have spoken publicly about their concerns over wages failing to rise at a faster pace given the tight labor market. Economic growth in the U.S. is averaging 2% a quarter since the Great Recession, but historical averages, according

• August 24, 2017
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The number of people who applied for U.S. unemployment-insurance benefits inched up by 2,000 to 234,000 in the week that ended Aug. 19, after hitting a six–month low in the prior week, according to Labor Department data released Thursday.

• August 23, 2017
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The service and manufacturing sectors went in different directions in August, according to data released Wednesday. The IHS Markit flash manufacturing purchasing managers index fell to a two-month low of 52.5 from 53.3 in July, while the services PMI rose to a 28-month high of 56.9, up from 54.7 in July. Any reading above 50

• August 18, 2017
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The consumer sentiment index rose to 97.6 in August, in a survey of consumers by The University of Michigan. U.S. consumer sentiment was expected to reach 94, according economists surveyed by Reuters. The index, which measures the confidence in future economic prospects, hit 93.1 in July.

• August 17, 2017
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The Home Affordable Refinance Program will now expire on December 31, 2018 after an extension was granted.  The Federal Housing Finance Agency has extending its Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) for another year.  Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have already refinanced 3.4 million homeowners through the program.  It is believed that an additional 143,000 GSE

• August 17, 2017
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The factory activity survey from the Philadelphia Federal Reserve fell to 18.9 from 19.5, the regional bank said. Economists had expected a steeper decline, to 17.0. But the report’s details were stronger than the headline. The new orders gauge surged to 20.4 from 2.1, signalling stronger growth in the future, and the measure of shipments