As 2026 moves forward amid rising inflation and a fairly soft labor market, are leading indicators pointing to a better near-term economy? The nonprofit research firm The Conference Board’s latest monthly Leading Economic Indicators report found a slight decline as the Board’s Leading Economic Index hit 99.1 in June, a 0.2% downturn compared to the…
Economists say renewed doubt about a resolution to the war in Iran kept Treasury yields and thus mortgage rates elevated this past week with the average 30-year hitting its highest point since August of 2025. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate (FRM) rose 6 basis points to 6.55% from 6.49% last week, and the 15-year…
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Mixed signals continue coming from the U.S. housing market, as the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported this week that home-purchase applications decreased for a second week while refinances increased, even as rates hit their highest point since August of last year. The latest Market Composite Index from the MBA—its measure of mortgage loan activity volume…
Across the first half of 2026, numerous economic reports revealed high or rising inflation. Some officials of the Federal Reserve, which remains focused on bringing inflation down, have suggested that interest rate hikes could be necessary if inflation does not fall. The latest data from the Consumer Price Index (CPI), maintained by the U.S. Bureau…
Editor’s note: Econ Review is a roundup of the housing and economic market data reports released during the month. As we move into summer and prepare to see the compounded data of the first half of 2026, the picture the housing market and economy paint is that of continued complications. While some indicators remain better…
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The higher hopes for existing-home sales in June unfortunately were not met as the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) reported a decrease. However, not all hope is lost as several indicators in NAR’s data remain positive, and economists say there is still potential for a better path ahead. NAR’s Existing-Home Sales report saw sales fall…
The Federal Reserve chose to hold interest rates unchanged at the June Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting. The past few months, which have seen both higher inflation and a relatively soft labor market, have also created a sense of deadlock and a wait-and-see attitude among the Fed. While the June vote was ultimately unanimous,…
The average 30-year-fixed mortgage rate dropped to its lowest level in seven weeks, but is still hovering in the mid-6% range, indicating to economists that buyers–mainly in the higher-income bracket–are coming to terms with this rate environment as the new normal. The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate decreased 6 basis points to 6.43% from 6.49%…
Job growth trended downward and came in below expectations in June, per the latest findings from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This adds another data point as the Federal Reserve moves to consider adjusting interest rates in coming months; in previous months, the Fed has been caught between both rising inflation and a weak…
The Mortgage Bankers Association is attributing an increase in home-purchase applications this week to mortgage rates edging down slightly following a decline in oil prices and easing tensions in the Middle East. The latest Market Composite Index from the MBA—its measure of mortgage loan activity volume and includes purchases and refinances—shows mortgage application activity increasing…
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