Jerome Powell’s tenure as chair of the Federal Reserve concludes on May 15, bringing the eight years he has spent in the role to a close. Since the second Trump administration commenced, Powell (who was appointed to the Fed by Trump in 2018) has come under criticism from the President for, in Trump’s view, a…

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Inflation shot up once again in April as energy prices continue to see large jolts both monthly and yearly, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Economists warn the country may now be facing an “inflation contagion,” with the path ahead murkier than before.  The Consumer Price Index’s (CPI) all items…

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Editor’s note: Econ Review is a roundup of the month’s housing and economic market data reports.   As spring progresses, the industry is awaiting data related to how the season shaped up ahead of another potential boom in activity over the upcoming summer.  Here are some highlights from the housing and economic data that hit the…

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Since the commencement of the U.S. and Iran war, energy prices have soared, and the latest findings from the Bureau of Economic Analysis’ Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) index (the Federal Reserve’s preferred measure of inflation) found that catching up. The PCE price index experienced a large bump in March 2026; after hovering around 2.9% annual…

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Nonprofit business research organization The Conference Board released its latest Leading Economic Index (LEI)—which provides an early indication of significant turning points in the business cycle and where the economy is heading—showing a decline of 0.6% in March 2026, more than reversing its 0.3% increase in February.  Overall, the LEI fell by 1.0% over the…

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Jerome Powell’s reign at the Fed may be at its end, but he’s not going anywhere.  On Wednesday, the Federal Reserve held interest rates steady at its April Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, leaving the federal funds rate unchanged at a rate of 3.5%-3.75% for the third straight month since December’s quarter-point cut.  And…

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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…

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Tuesday morning, the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee held a confirmation hearing for Kevin Warsh, President Donald Trump’s nominee to succeed Jerome Powell as chair of the Federal Reserve. Warsh previously served on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2006 and remaining until 2011. He has…

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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…

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