Frank Nothaft
Frank Nothaft
april concerns consumer decline larger market picture price producer released state tomorrow
The Producer Price Index for April, released today, showed a considerably larger decline than had been expected, reaffirming market concerns about the state of the economy. However, the Consumer Price Index for April that will come out tomorrow will give us a much more comprehensive picture of what is actually happening.
action august board chance consumer current drifted federal further interest labor later likely market meets raise rates reserve slight slowing until
There is a slight chance the Federal Reserve Board will raise rates when it meets later this month, but with the current labor market and slowing consumer spending, it is more likely that it will take no action until August at the earliest. As a result, short-term interest rates, such as the one-year adjustable-rate mortgage, drifted further down this week.
albeit compared few likely modestly mortgage next rates rise
Long-term mortgage rates will more than likely rise over the next few months, albeit modestly compared to shorter-term rates.
across built couple england families home last markets means pace past percent seen strong value values
Over the last couple of years, we've seen many markets with strong home value appreciation. They're up at a considerable pace in many markets across the country, particularly from New England all the way down to Washington, D.C., ... Home values are up in D.C., for example, by over 10 percent over the past year. That means families have built up home equity.
affordable coming continue expect housing low market mortgage percent present rate rates remaining strong
With the unemployment rate at a low of 4.3 percent and mortgage rates remaining at present affordable levels, we expect the housing market to continue to be strong into the coming months.
adding basically certainly favorable good home hovering level months mortgage past rate remained robust sales
The new home sales rate has remained robust for a good many months already. Certainly adding to the level of sales in the past six-to-12 months has been a very favorable level of mortgage rates, which are basically hovering around 7 percent.
active alive confident continue expected great housing increase industry levels months mortgage november rates reached remain rose second seen since starts surprise three time
It was no great surprise that housing starts rose for the second time in three months since mortgage rates in November reached levels not seen since the mid-1960s. Since mortgage rates are not expected to increase significantly, we remain confident that the housing industry will continue to be alive and active well into 2003.
exceed forecast interest last percent rates six time
At this time last year, our forecast called for interest rates for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages to exceed six percent by this time this year,
based cause currently higher highest housing january market occurred rates starts week
That said, January housing starts were the highest in over 20 years, and that is based on higher rates than we are currently experiencing, ... All in all, the little run-up in rates that occurred this week will not be enough to cause a significant slowdown in current housing market activity.
concern consumer continued cut declining drop economy federal helped housing interest mortgage overall rates recent since spite support weakness year
The Federal Reserve's recent cut in interest rates and a continued concern over weakness in the overall economy contributed to another drop in mortgage rates this week. In spite of the slowdown in other sectors and a lessening of consumer confidence, declining mortgage rates since the first of the year have helped to support housing activity.
consumer deflation economy housing indicate leading pick price ready released reports starts stronger suggesting together week
The Consumer Price Index released this week showed no decline, suggesting that the possibility of deflation is still low. Housing starts were stronger than expected, as were the leading indicators released today. All of these reports together could indicate the economy is ready to pick up growth.
caused consumer drift economy financial holiday including initial interest kept markets mortgage potential sales spending upwards
Consumer spending has kept the economy moving, and when initial holiday sales were better than expected, financial markets reacted with enthusiasm. It was this potential pick-up in the economy that caused interest rates, including mortgage rates, to drift upwards this week.
breaking current demand economy housing keeping low mortgage overall rates record
Current record breaking low mortgage rates are keeping demand for housing strong, even as the overall economy stumbles sluggishly into the first part of the new year.
causing currently due economic exactly focusing good market mortgage next pressure rates rebound recovery remains six strong volatility within
Currently the market is focusing on an anticipated economic recovery within the next six months. That focus put some upward pressure on mortgage rates this week, causing them to rise. There remains good volatility though, due to market speculation over exactly when and how strong the rebound will be.