Indexes tracking home-purchase and refinance application activity both saw increases this week, supported by a 9-basis-point decrease in mortgage rates last week that followed easing of tensions in the Middle East. According to the latest Market Composite Index from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)—its measure of mortgage loan activity volume and includes purchases and refinances—increased…
‘In a holding pattern’ is how economists are describing the spring market moving into April, with more policy stability and conflict resolution needed to move buyers and sellers back from the sidelines. The average mortgage rate ticked down 9 basis points to 6.37% this week, down from 6.46% last week after several weeks of increases,…
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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…
Data tracking home purchase and refinance applications showed decreases in both indexes again this week in the wake of ongoing economic uncertainty and steadily rising mortgage rates. According to the latest Market Composite Index from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)—its measure of mortgage loan activity volume and includes purchases and refinances—decreased 0.8% on a seasonally…
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 average 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased for the fifth consecutive week, rising to 6.46% as the ongoing war in Iran continues to roil financial markets, economists said. The average mortgage rate ticked up 8 basis points to 6.46% this week, according to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), released by Freddie Mac Thursday,…
With mortgage rates climbing to their highest point since August recently, the role of steadily increasing home purchase application and refinance activity has reversed, with both indexes by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) showing sharp decreases this week. According to the latest Market Composite Index from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)—its measure of mortgage loan…
Despite ongoing economic impacts surrounding the U.S. and Iran war, monthly consumer confidence as surveyed by the nonprofit Conference Board ticked up in March 2026. The survey, with results collected between March 1-24 (entirely during the Iran war), found that consumer confidence ticked up to 91.8 in March, up from the revised February findings of…
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.…
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