As annual inflation remains above 2% and the labor market shows weakness, the Federal Reserve has been split in recent months over the direction of monetary policy. The past year has seen split votes among the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voting committee on interest rates-setting; the July FOMC, for instance, saw Fed Governors Michelle…
As the year ends, how are consumers—such as potential homebuyers—feeling about the market going into 2026? Per the latest findings from the University of Michigan’s monthly Consumer Sentiment report, sentiment was slightly improved in December compared to November, confirming the sentiment trajectory from the University of Michigan’s preliminary report earlier this month. Compared to November…
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran said Monday that he expects a rapid decline in housing-related inflation despite higher costs for other items. He also suggested interest rate cuts may be warranted even as overall inflation remains above the Fed’s 2% target. In his speech at Columbia University, Miran noted that current shelter inflation readings reflect…
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller argued at a Yale University CEO Summit today that the central bank should press forward with rate cuts even as job growth stalls near zero. He also offered a sobering observation about the housing market: lower rates may not matter much if potential homebuyers are too worried about losing their…
Above, Fed Chair Jerome Powell The Federal Reserve has announced its third interest rate cut of the year—its third in a row—closing out its final Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting of 2025. The FOMC announced at its December meeting today that it has cut interest rates by a quarter-percentage point. This follows a 25-basis-point…
Above, Brad Case After past positions at the Federal Reserve, Nareit and Fannie Mae, Brad Case brings a breadth of experience to his newly appointed role as chief residential economist at portal giant Homes.com. With more than 35 years of industry expertise, in his new role he will serve as the company’s leading voice on…
Throughout 2025, consumer sentiment toward the economy has declined noticeably—does the end of the year bring any turnaround? According to a preliminary report on consumer sentiment from the University of Michigan (scheduled ahead of the final December report two weeks out), consumer sentiment improved slightly month-over-month. The closely watched index of consumer sentiment came in…
At a recent public appearance at Oxford University, Federal Reserve Board Governor Christopher Waller confirmed that he plans to vote for a 25-basis-point cut at the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in December. However, during a subsequent Q&A, Waller foretold that observers may find there is currently less “groupthink” at the Fed. The…
At the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting Dec. 9-10, the final one of 2025, the voting committee will decide whether to adjust interest rates—with one voting member, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller, already making his voting intentions clear. In a Monday, Nov. 17 appearance at the Society of Professional Economists held at Oxford…
Since taking office on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors in September, Stephen Miran has pushed for a looser monetary policy. At both the September and October Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meetings, Miran dissented from the majority vote to cut interest rates by a quarter point, in favor of a higher cut by half…
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