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July Existing Home Sales posts healthy levels

  • 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.

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The Fed mulls how to boost economic growth: Kansas City Federal Reserve Bank’s Esther George

  • August 24, 2017
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  • realestatelife

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

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U.S. jobless claims inch up from six-month low

  • August 24, 2017
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  • realestatelife

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.

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Manufacturing, service ‘flash’ PMI readings split direction in August

  • August 23, 2017
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  • realestatelife

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

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Consumer sentiment beats expectations in August

  • August 18, 2017
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  • realestatelife

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.

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FHFA extends Harp for another year

  • August 17, 2017
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  • realestatelife

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

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Philadelphia Fed factory gauge eases but hints at future strength in August

  • August 17, 2017
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  • realestatelife

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

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Some Fed members say bank can be ‘patient’ on interest rates due to low inflation

  • August 17, 2017
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  • realestatelife

The Federal Reserve engaged in an intense debate in July about the path of U.S. inflation after a spate of surprisingly low readings, raising questions about whether the central bank will raise interest rates again this year. The Fed’s policy-setting group appeared more unified on a plan to announce in September a long-awaited drawdown of

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U.S. jobless claims fall to six-month low of 232,000

  • August 17, 2017
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  • realestatelife

The number of Americans who sought unemployment benefits in mid-August fell to the lowest level in six months, mirroring the strongest U.S. labor market in almost two decades. Initial jobless claims in the period running from Aug. 6 to Aug. 12 declined by 12,000 to 232,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. That’s the lowest level

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Fed eyes September debt drawdown; some want ‘patient’ on rates

  • August 16, 2017
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  • realestatelife

Most senior Federal Reserve officials wanted to wait until an “upcoming” meeting to unveil a long-awaited selloff of the central bank’s $4.5 trillion in bond holdings, hinting at an announcement in September, according to minutes of the Fed’s meeting in July. The Fed also engaged in a deep debate over surprisingly low inflation readings, with

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