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☆ Bad news if you’re looking to buy a house in the next two years
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-22 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

After hitting two-decade highs nearing 8% late last year, mortgage rates have fallen, dipping nearly as low as 6% in September. Mortgage rates are expected to stay stuck above 6% for at least the next two years, according to economists and recent forecasts. Home sales are on track for their worst year since 1995 due to home-price growth and elevated mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are closely tied to the 10-year US Treasury yield. Billionaire investor Paul Tudor Jones last month said a swelling national debt under Trump would be frowned upon by the bond market.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ” Lawrence Yun, “, Wells, Fannie Mae, Donald Trump’s, Trump, ” Bernard Baumohl, Paul Tudor Jones, “ We’re, ”, Nick Dus, “ They’ve, Dus, NAR’s Yun, Yun, ” Yun, Samantha Delouya Organizations: Washington CNN, National Association of Realtors, Federal, Treasury, Economic Outlook, Billionaire, Trump, CNBC, CNN, Fed Locations: Wells Fargo, Evansville , Indiana

☆ Small businesses are hurting at the worst possible time
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-17 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

That’s because small businesses typically having tighter profit margins compared to behemoths like Walmart and Amazon, so they feel the sting of rising costs more acutely. The Small Business Index shows that 8 in 10 small retail businesses rely on holiday sales to meet their annual profit goals. If only it were that simple for small businesses. John Waldmann, chief executive of Homebase, a payroll software provider for more than 100,000 small businesses, said Enjou Chocolat’s dilemma is something he hears all the time. “Small businesses are really reticent to increase prices, so when they do, it’s because they have to,” Waldmann said.

Persons: Washington CNN — Enjou, Mark Chinsky, “, ‘ that’s, you’ve, ” Chinsky, that, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, we’re, ”, Thomas Barkin, “ Price, Joe Raedle, John Waldmann, Enjou, ” Waldmann, “ They’re, Scott Olson, there’s, Sarah Jordan, ” There’s, Bill Dunkelberg Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, National Federation of Independent Business, Walmart, ” Richmond Fed, Target, “, Board, Wrigley Field Locations: Morristown , New Jersey, America, Miami, Chicago

☆ Fed’s Powell: Rate cuts are still underway
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-14 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Powell said more rate cuts are likely underway because the economy’s current trends and dynamics are expected to remain in place, at least in the short run. “We are moving policy over time to a more neutral setting,” Powell said in prepared remarks for an event in Dallas. It’s also too soon for Fed officials to conclude that October data is indicative of any new trend. While additional hot inflation reports could be factored in to the Fed’s decisions, officials are also looking at the US labor market closely. There’s also been tension between Trump and Powell, whom the president-elect first nominated in 2017 to steer the central bank.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Powell, ” Powell, Donald Trump, Trump’s, It’s, Price, “, —, There’s Organizations: Washington CNN — Federal, Republican, Fed Locations: Dallas, stoke, Trump

☆ Are you a Latino who voted for Trump because of the economy?
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-12 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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A statue of an eagle is seen on the Federal Reserve building on September 17 in Washington, DC. One of those meetings takes place in November and, coincidentally, kicked off the Wednesday directly right after Election Day. As Fed Chair Jerome Powell has previously vowed, officials don’t take the political calendar into consideration when they make interest rate decisions. Still, this meeting’s proximity to Election Day has put the Fed in an uncomfortable position — whether Powell and his colleagues want to admit it or not. Already, officials have been scrutinized for their decision to begin lowering rates at its last meeting before the election, which took place in September.

Persons: Anna Moneymaker, Jerome Powell, don’t, Powell’s, Powell Organizations: Federal Reserve, Reserve Locations: Washington , DC

☆ America now looks to the Fed for clues on future rate cuts
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-07 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The move comes as inflation remains on a downward trend while the job market continues to lose momentum. While that has helped rein in price pressures, it also puts the job market in jeopardy. So I’m going to be patient.”Still, rate cuts are expected to stretch through 2025, even during a Trump presidency, according to economists. On one hand, there’s evidence that America’s job market has continued to lose momentum in recent months. But since Trump’s economic vision could eventually stoke inflation, that could mean the Fed delivers fewer rate cuts in the coming years.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Donald Trump, Powell, “ I’m, Raphael Bostic, ”, Kamala Harris, Felipe Villarroel, —, Trump, hasn’t, Arthur Burns, Richard Nixon, Ben Bernanke Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, President, White, Atlanta Fed, Trump, TwentyFour Asset Management, Fed, CNN, White House, Capitol Locations: Jackson , Mississippi

☆ The world is about to get some much-needed clarity on the US economy’s future
▼ + stars: | 2024-11-03 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

One bit of clarity they’re sure to get: The Federal Reserve’s latest interest rate decision, due to be announced Thursday. The Fed lowered borrowing costs in September for the first time in more than four years while signaling additional rate cuts. But a slew of economic figures have been released since the decision, which is important because the Fed’s decision are guided by what those figures show. Investors are betting with near certainty that the Fed will deliver a quarter-point cut, according to futures. Lower rates could entice home buyers to come off the sidelines, and for businesses it could continue plans that have “baked in” lower rates.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Jerome Powell’s, America’s, Harris, Harris ’, ” “, Lawrence Yun, ” Yun, they’re, It’s Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal, Fed, The Wall Street, US, Trump, Federal Reserve, Duke University, Institute for Supply, National Association of Realtors

☆ GDP report: America’s economy is at a historic point ahead of presidential election
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-30 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —The US economy seems to have pulled off a remarkable and historic achievement. American shoppers continued to fuel economic growth in the third quarter with their spending, according to the report. That marked the biggest contributor to GDP growth in the third quarter by far. Government spending at both the federal and state level also contributed to third-quarter economic growth. Wednesday’s GDP report showed that the US economy remains on solid footing.

Persons: That’s, ”, James Bullard, Louis, Joe Biden, Harris Organizations: Washington CNN, Gross, Commerce Department, Federal, CNN, Federal Reserve Bank of St, Fed, White, Biden

☆ Americans’ economic mood is perking up ahead of the election, survey finds
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-29 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The Conference Board’s latest consumer survey showed that Americans this month became more optimistic about the future of both the labor market and the broader US economy. The monthly survey’s Consumer Confidence Index jumped in October by the fastest clip since March 2021. In September, jitters over the job market’s health weighed on consumer confidence, but economic data after that showed that the job market remains solid. “Views on the current availability of jobs rebounded after several months of weakness, potentially reflecting better labor market data,” Peterson said. Data for September pointed to a robust job market, which translated into better consumer confidence.

Persons: “, ” Dana Peterson, jitters, ” Peterson, Kamala Harris, ”, Lael Brainard, Robert Frick, August’s Organizations: Washington CNN, Conference Board’s, White House, Navy Federal Credit Union

☆ Americans are feeling better about the economy after the Fed’s jumbo rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-25 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —Americans’ attitudes toward the economy improved this month thanks to lower interest rates. Americans’ expectations for inflation rates in the long run also edged lower this month. “This month’s increase was primarily due to modest improvements in buying conditions for durables, in part due to easing interest rates,” Joanne Hsu, director of the university’s Surveys of Consumers, said in a release. The Federal Reserve last month cut interest rates for the first time in more than four years, by a bold half point, in part thanks to inflation coming under control. Lower borrowing costs make it cheaper for American shoppers to buy durable goods such as appliances, cars and furniture, which are usually bought on credit.

Persons: ” Joanne Hsu, haven’t, ” Robert Frick, Donald Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, University of Michigan’s, Consumers, Federal Reserve, Navy Federal Credit Union, University of Michigan

☆ Here’s why mortgage rates are rising after the Fed’s rate cut
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-24 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Expectations of a Fed rate cut caused mortgage rates to drop to a two-year low of 6.08% in late September, but it failed to spur homebuying activity. Every percentage point on a mortgage rate makes a big difference for that monthly payment. Here’s what’s driving the recent upswing in mortgage rates. Mortgage rates track the 10-year US Treasury yield, which was expected to fall in anticipation of further rate cuts. “I am clearly not going to own any fixed income.”The government’s fiscal situation might already be having an impact on mortgage rates.

Persons: Freddie Mac, pare, what’s, ” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, Robyn Beck, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Harris, “ We’re, Paul Tudor Jones, “, ” Lawrence Yun, Kimberly Bradley, Zach, Kimberly, “ I’ve, ” Kimberly, ” Ken Lowrey, Ken Lowrey, “ homeownership, ”, Lowrey Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, Mortgage, Association, Treasury, Getty, Federal Budget, Trump, CNBC, US Postal Service Locations: AFP, Manteo , North Carolina, Charleston , South Carolina

☆ It’s tough for young Americans to find a job right now. Blame ‘the Great Stay’
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-18 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Staple’s plight highlights the unusually difficult situation of young Americans trying to kick-start their careers, even as the broader US economy remains in good shape. Indeed, the job market overall remains in decent shape. A ‘victim of circumstance’Everyday Americans are always at the mercy of the economy — whether it’s navigating difficulties such as high inflation and a recession, or a red-hot job market that benefits workers. Having a tough time landing that first job, in part because of broader economic forces, can have lasting consequences. “For young workers, their first few years out of school are very formative for their careers.

Persons: Kirsten Staple, ” Staple, That’s, ‘, ”, Julia Pollak, ZipRecruiter’s, “, they’re, Daniel Zhao, Zhao, Millennials, Jonathon Courtney, hasn’t, Courtney, I’ve, ” Courtney, who’ve, there’s, Catherine Dugoni Camille Larsen Catherine Dugoni, “ It’s, ” Dugoni, isn’t Organizations: Washington CNN, University of Texas, Labor Department, CNN, Federal Reserve, Employers, Glassdoor, University of Houston Locations: San Antonio, El Paso , Texas, ‘, Houston, Sacramento , California, San Francisco

☆ A key source of America’s economic power strengthened last month
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-17 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Retail sales were up across most categories last month, rising the most at specialty stores (+4%), clothing stores (+1.5%) and at health and personal care shops (+1.1%). Excluding those sales, retail spending was up a much stronger 0.6%. Consumer spending makes up about 70% of the US economy, with retail sales comprising a sizable chunk of that. The latest figures on retail spending represent another reassuring sign that America’s economy is nowhere near a recession. The Federal Reserve delivered a bold half-point rate cut last month, the first time the central bank has lowered interest rates in more than four years.

Persons: Jerome Powell Organizations: Washington CNN, Consumer, Federal Reserve

☆ The jobs number surpassed everyone’s expectations. Cue the complaints about the Fed
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-05 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

“Did the Fed even need to cut rates in September, let alone cut by 50bps (basis points)?” Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management, wrote in a note on Friday. Second-guessing the Fed isn’t new, of course. Central bank officials themselves note the uncertainty inherent in their work, especially when the economy reaches inflection points. Even Fed officials don’t always agree with the central bank’s actions, such as Fed Governor Michelle Bowman, the lone dissenter to the Fed’s decision to cut rates by half a point in September. ‘This isn’t exact science’Fed officials aren’t shy about admitting that they don’t always have confidence in how the US economy will evolve.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Jerome Powell, Philipp Carlsson, Seema Shah, James Knightley, Powell, don’t, Michelle Bowman, wouldn’t, —, ” Carlsson, Szlezak, “, ” Gina Bolvin Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, Boston Consulting, Asset Management, ING, Bolvin Wealth Management Locations: Wall, Washington

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference on September 18 in Washington, DC. Anna Moneymaker/Getty ImagesThe Federal Reserve’s recent half-point cut will take some time to work through the system, Noah Yosif, chief economist and head of research at the American Staffing Association, told CNN. “Just because the Federal Reserve votes to decrease interest rates in September does not mean that employers are going to see lower costs in October,” he said, adding that it could take three to six months to filter through to businesses. More rate cuts are expected for later this year, but the extent will depend on the health of the labor market, and that outlook could be quite murky due to impact from the strikes and Hurricane Helene. Fed officials, who are scheduled to make the central bank’s next interest rate decision just days after the October jobs report lands, will do their best to look through the noise and what are likely idiosyncratic factors, said Ryan Sweet at Oxford Economics.

Persons: Jerome Powell, Anna Moneymaker, Noah Yosif, “, ”, Helene, Ryan Sweet, Ejindu Ume Organizations: American Staffing Association, CNN, Federal Reserve, Oxford Economics, Miami University in Locations: Washington , DC, Miami University in Ohio

☆ Harris and Trump want to make stuff in America again. That’s really hard to do
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-26 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

And it’ll be tough for either Vice President Kamala Harris or former President Donald Trump to turn that around if elected, no matter their grandiose campaign promises. Put together, such investments have resulted in a sharp pick-up in construction spending by manufacturers, according to government data. Manufacturing’s main pain points are sluggish demand and elevated interest rates, according to recent manufacturing surveys by the Institute for Supply Management and S&P Global. And, of course, there are issues specific to certain sectors of the manufacturing industry. It could get better, but it’s not clear whenIt’s not all doom and gloom for the manufacturing industry.

Persons: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, Biden, haven’t, hasn’t, Harris, ” Harris, Trump, ” Chris Williamson, ” Timothy Fiore, There’s, ” Lauren Goodwin, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, Act, Congress, Private, Manufacturers, Labor Department, Institute for Supply Management, P, P Global Market Intelligence, ISM’s Manufacturing, Survey, P Global, Boeing, Federal, New York Life Investments Locations: America, Pittsburgh, Savannah, China, Pennsylvania, Korea, North Carolina, Germany, Georgia

☆ Americans are fretting over the job market
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-24 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Washington CNN —America’s slowing job market is taking a toll on people’s moods. The Conference Board’s latest consumer survey showed that Americans became much more pessimistic about the US economy’s current health and the future of the job market. “September’s decline was the largest since August 2021 and all five components of the Index deteriorated.”The US job market is in decent shape, but it is clearly running at a much slower pace these days than it has in recent years. Peterson said the weaker-than-expected survey results “reflected consumers’ concerns about the labor market and reactions to fewer hours, slower payroll increases, fewer job openings — even if the labor market remains quite healthy, with low unemployment, few layoffs and elevated wages.”The job market’s fate is unclear. Employers might be holding back on hiring for two good reasons: Uncertainty over the upcoming US presidential election and the fate of interest rates, CNN previously reported.

Persons: ”, Dana Peterson, mightily, Peterson, Jerome Powell, Kamala Harris, Donald Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, Conference Board, Employers, Federal Reserve, CNN

☆ Home sales slumped to lowest August level since 2010. But they’re poised to soar after the Fed finally cut interest rates
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-19 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —Sales of previously owned homes in the United States fell sharply in August, despite mortgage rates plummeting that month. Lower borrowing costs will likely entice buyersMortgage rates could very well come down even more, but that would depend on economic data making it clear that the Fed would cut rates further. The Fed doesn’t control mortgage rates, but its action do influence them through movements in bond yields. Mortgage rates track the 10-year US Treasury yield, which moves in anticipation of the Fed’s decision on rates. Yun told reporters it could take three or four months for lower mortgage rates to boost demand for housing.

Persons: ” Yun, ”, Daniele Hale, “, we’re, Freddie Mac, Yun, ‘ I’m Organizations: Washington CNN —, Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, Fed, Treasury Locations: United States

The Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve building in Washington, DC, on June 25. Ting Shen/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesAfter all the hype that’s been brewing for over a year, you might think that once the Federal Reserve finally cuts interest rates the economy will look and feel completely different. Sure, the stock market could have some big swings the second the Fed releases its interest rate decision at 2 pm ET on Wednesday and when Fed Chair Jerome Powell speaks a half hour later. Mortgage rates and the interest rates Americans pay on a variety of loans will quickly drop as well. That’s because when the Fed lowers or raises rates, it takes a while for the full effect of those moves to be felt across the economy.

Persons: Ting Shen, there’s, Jerome Powell, Milton Friedman, Read Organizations: Eccles Federal Reserve, Bloomberg, Federal Reserve, Fed Locations: Washington ,

☆ The Fed has waited four years to cut rates. But it’s still a tough call
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-18 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

It’s also a sign of confidence from Fed officials that inflation has come under control just enough to comfortably dial back policy. Typically, in the lead-up to a Fed policy decision, Wall Street and economists are in alignment on what to expect. But investors’ wagers for a half-point cut ramped up on Monday; and as of Tuesday afternoon, federal funds futures contracts were pricing in a 63% chance of a jumbo rate cut, up from around 30% on Thursday, according to the CME Group. As inflation skyrocketed in 2021 and 2022, American employers pumped out jobs and the unemployment rate declined to half-century lows. The Fed eventually responded to the country’s inflation problem with its bitter medicine of high interest rates.

Persons: It’s, Christopher Waller, Elizabeth Warren, Robert Kaplan, Bill Dudley, ”, Powell, ” Gregory Daco, “, ” Julia Hermann Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, Street, CME, Fed, Democratic, Dallas Fed, CNBC, Former New York, Bloomberg, Dow, Labor, New York Life Investments, CNN

☆ America’s economic engine is still revving, despite fears of a slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-17 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

☆ The Fed is finally about to cut interest rates. What took so long?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-16 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington CNN —It’s a pivotal week for the US economy, with the Federal Reserve expected to cut interest rates for the first time since 2020. Fed officials and investors have long anticipated that borrowing costs would come down in 2024 — at some point — according to their economic forecasts. But nine months in, rate cuts still haven’t happened, drenching Wall Street’s parade and leaving US consumers squeezed by elevated interest rates. Here’s why the Fed didn’t cut soonerIt’s simple: The Fed didn’t cut interest rates sooner because it could have reignited inflation or left it stuck above the central bank’s target. Bond yields, which move in anticipation of the Fed’ decisions on rates, have come down over the past several weeks based on signs encouraging the Fed to cut rates, such as weaker-than-expected employment data and cooling inflation.

Persons: Washington CNN — It’s, it’s, ” Oscar Muñoz, ” Muñoz, Jerome Powell, Powell, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, “ Jerome Powell’s, ” Philipp Carlsson Organizations: Washington CNN, Federal Reserve, Fed, Wall, TD Securities, CNN, Kansas City, Capitol, White, Boston Consulting Group Locations: —, Jackson Hole , Wyoming

☆ Slower inflation is boosting Americans’ attitudes toward the economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-13 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Washington CNN —Americans are feeling a greater sense of optimism about the US economy this month, thanks to slower inflation. Voters also see a greater likelihood that Vice President Kamala Harris will defeat former President Donald Trump in the upcoming November election. The University of Michigan’s latest consumer survey, released Friday, showed that Americans’ attitudes toward the economy improved notably this month, rising 2% from August, according to a preliminary reading. That broke a monthslong spell of consumer sentiment mostly holding steady, aside from a modest increase last month. Expectations for inflation rates in the year head declined for the fourth-straight month in September, according to the report, reaching its lowest reading since December 2020.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Donald Trump, ” Joanne Tsu, ”, Harris, Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, University of Michigan’s, Consumers, ABC

☆ Mortgage rates fall to lowest level since February 2023
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Mortgage rates fell this week to the lowest point since February 2023, in a welcome sign for Americans grappling with a tough housing market. The standard, 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.20% in the week ended September 12, mortgage financing giant Freddie Mac said Thursday. Mortgage rates started to drop early last month on news affirming lower interest rates in the future, specifically after a weaker-than-expected jobs report for July, and have gradually edged lower since. “Mortgage rates have fallen more than half a percent over the last six weeks and are at their lowest level since February 2023,” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s chief economist, said in a release. The Fed doesn’t directly set mortgage rates, but its action do influence them through movements in bond yields.

Persons: Freddie Mac, ” Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s, that’s, Lawrence Yun Organizations: Washington CNN —, “, Federal Reserve, Treasury, Las, P Global, Apple, Fed, National Association of Realtors Locations: New York City, San Diego, Las Vegas, America, Los Angeles, Miami

☆ Is America’s housing crisis determining how you vote this November?
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-12 | by ( Bryan Mena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: 1 min

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