Home price growth continues to decelerate as some market stabilization occurs ahead of the spring buying season, according to the latest data. The December S&P Cotality Case-Shiller Home Price Index saw home prices rise 1.3% year-over-year, slightly down from the 1.4% annual gain seen in November, which Nicholas Godec, head of Fixed Income Tradables &…
Consumers’ perception of the economy plays as vital a role in shaping market activity as hard economic data, as consumers will want to know whether the economy is on solid footing before they make a major financial decision (such as buying a home). The latest report on Consumer Confidence from the nonprofit Conference Board—based on…
Economic data appears to be affirming that an interest rate is not coming for a few months as the Federal Reserve’s favorite inflation measure heated up despite a winter freeze, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index increased 0.4% in December, putting annual inflation…
As inventory challenges persist in some markets and have improved in others, economists generally point to a Spring market with increased buyers, provided average mortgage rates remain at their recent years-long lows. The latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), released by Freddie Mac Thursday, shows the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaging 6.01%, down from 6.09%…
At the end of 2025, the leading indicators of the economy suggested a slowing contraction, but enduring consumer cynicism. The latest Leading Economic Indicators (LEI) report from nonprofit business research organization The Conference Board found a 0.2% decline in December, compared to a 0.3% decline in November. The report’s baseline (measured against 2016, rated at…
Steady rates remaining in the low 6% range continue fueling refinance demand, rising the tide for a small increase this week in overall mortgage applications, as tracked by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). According to the latest Market Composite Index—MBA’s measure of mortgage loan activity volume and includes purchases and refinances—increased 2.8% on a seasonally…
January appears to be looking up in terms of inflation as the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics saw the Consumer Price Index (CPI) hit a low for both inflation and core inflation. The CPI for January saw a 0.2% increase in the all items index, landing annual inflation at 2.4%. This is…
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On the heels of a dismal January existing home sales report, mortgage rates holding steady around 6% for weeks brings brighter news in the form of increased confidence for some home shoppers who’ve been sitting on the sidelines, experts say, although affordability still remains a challenge. The latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®), released by…
Applications for home loans remained essentially flat this week, declining slightly along with the refinance share of total mortgage activity, while experts note an uptick in government-backed loan applications is an indicator of ongoing affordability challenges. According to the latest Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) report, the Market Composite Index—the measure of mortgage loan activity volume…
On the heels of the decision from the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) to hold interest rates steady, the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data appears to support the decision as jobs and unemployment saw improvement in January. The latest Employment Situation Summary—aka the jobs report—saw the U.S. add 130,000 jobs in January, and…
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