As the conflict with Iran has loomed over the heads of consumers and over the economy, the two-week ceasefire in April contributed to some relief in consumer views, according to the latest data from The Conference Board. The Consumer Confidence Index® saw a 0.6 point increase to 92.8 in April (baseline of 100 is based…
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Consumer views on the economy continue to muddle for another month as the Iranian conflict looms over oil and gas prices, according to the latest Survey of Consumers from the University of Michigan. The index of Consumer Sentiment fell 6.6% month-over-month to 49.8 (from 53.3 in March), down 4.6% year-over-year and is “now comparable to…
Market conditions have been a bit of a wild ride over recent years, with affordability and inventory challenges, coupled with other economic headwinds, keeping buyers and sellers on edge. Rate lock-in has many sellers awaiting better conditions to make their move, while high home prices have buyers doing the same. What the industry as a…
As the eyes of many are on the Federal Reserve, eagerly looking forward to the first rate cut of 2026, the market has been awaiting the latest inflation data to help fill in some pieces of the puzzle ahead of the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting this month. While inflation came in largely…
In a rebound from February’s downcast numbers, a report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics on April 3 showed the U.S. economy gaining 178,000 jobs in March, with the unemployment rate sliding slightly to 4.3%. Job gains occurred in healthcare, construction and in transportation and warehousing. Federal government employment continued to decline. Average wages were…
Editor’s note: Econ Review is a roundup of the month’s housing and economic market data reports. The housing market is built on data. Home prices, home sales, construction rates coupled with economic data like inflation, jobs, interest rates—it all creates the ecosystem that is the housing market. Understanding the state of the market means understanding…
The commencement of the war with Iran caused further damage to consumer sentiment in March, according to the latest Survey of Consumers from the University of Michigan. The Index of Consumer Sentiment clocked in at 53.3 in March, down 5.8% from 56.6 in February and down 6.5% from 57 at the same time last year.…
While many across the industry were predicting interest rate cuts and a transition to a more balanced economy in 2026, the year so far has been shaping up a bit differently. Inflation remains elevated, mortgage rates are facing difficulty due to rising geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, and the Federal Reserve has yet to…
With mortgage rates rising due to higher oil prices from geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, mortgage applications saw another fall this week, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association. MBA’s Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey found that the Market Composite Index (a measure of mortgage loan application volume) fell 10.5% on a seasonally adjusted…
Consumer sentiment toward the economy, a vital metric for gauging whether consumers are feeling comfortable enough to make major purchases, showed positive signs at the outset of 2026. However, per the latest findings from the University of Michigan’s Survey of Consumers, sentiment has started to dip. The index of Consumer Sentiment fell from 56.6 in…
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