What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – September 20, 2021

Last week’s scheduled economic reporting included readings on consumer prices, retail sales, and the University of  Michigan’s preliminary Consumer Sentiment Index. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Consumer Price Growth Slows in August The Consumer Price Index reported that consumer prices grew by  0.30 percent in August as compared to July’s consumer price growth pace of 0.50 percent. Core consumer prices, which exclude volatile food and fuel sectors, also slowed in August to a pace of 0.10 percent as compared to July’s reading of 0.30 percent growth. Used-car prices fell for the first time in…
Read More

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – September 13, 2021

Last week’s economic reporting was limited due to the Labor Day holiday. Job openings were reported along with weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims. July Job Openings Higher Than Expected The Labor Department reported record job openings for the fifth consecutive month in July. Economists said that the data used in the report lagged by a month and the readings were not impacted by the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus. Job openings fell in construction, trade, transportation, and utilities. There were less than 0.80 unemployed available for each job opening in July. Hiring fell by 160,000 hires…
Read More

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – September 7, 2021

Last week’s economic news included readings on home prices from Case-Shiller; readings on construction spending and pending home sales were also released. Weekly data on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller Posts New Record for Home Price Growth in June U.S. home prices continued to gain at record levels in June according to S&P Case-Shiller Home Price Indices. The National  Home Price Index rose from May’s seasonally adjusted annual reading of 16.80 percent growth to 18.60 percent year-over-year home price growth in June. Case-Shiller’s 20-City Home Price Index reported no change in the top three cities for…
Read More

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 30, 2021

Last week’s economic reports included readings on new and existing home sales; the University of Michigan released its monthly Consumer Sentiment Index, and weekly updates on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also published. New Home Sales and Median Home Price Rose in July The Census Bureau reported that new homes sold at a seasonally-adjusted annual pace of 353,000 sales in July; analysts expected a pace of 350,000 new homes sold based on June’s reading of 349,000 sales of new homes. Homebuyers are buying new and existing homes at a faster pace as more homes and wider choices become available…
Read More

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 23, 2021

Last week’s economic news included readings from the National Association of Home Builders on housing market conditions and Commerce Department readings on housing starts and building permits issued. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. NAHB: August Builder Confidence Fell to Lowest Level in 13 Months Homebuilder confidence fell to its lowest level since July 2020 according to the National Association of Home Builder’s Housing Market Index for August. The HMI reading for August was 75; analysts expected a reading of 80 based on July’s index reading of 80. Readings over 50 represent positive sentiment among…
Read More

What’s Ahead For Mortgage Rates This Week – August 16, 2021

Last week’s economic reporting included readings on job openings, inflation, and consumer sentiment. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and jobless claims were also released. Job Openings Rise as Inflation Rate Falls The Labor Department reported a record number of job openings for the fourth consecutive month in June. Job openings rose to 10.1 million available jobs from May’s reading of 9.5 million job openings. Analysts expected job openings to decrease to 9.1 million jobs in June.  Analysts said that previous headwinds to hiring including generous unemployment benefits and childcare issues may be easing. Workers took advantage of the rising demand…
Read More