Industry News

Despite a series of Brexit votes in the UK this week, little progress was made, and the uncertainty was modestly favorable for mortgage rates. Weaker than expected inflation data also was positive, and rates ended the week lower. During an otherwise routine week, investors were drawn to a series of events unfolding in the UK […]

A dovish message from the European Central Bank was favorable for mortgage rates this week, while the major U.S. economic data had little net impact, and rates ended the week lower. In recent weeks, there have been substantial downgrades to the growth forecast for Europe from a wide range of sources. With this in mind […]

During a light week for economic data, investors were mostly focused on the Fed minutes and the trade talks. There were few surprises on any front, though, and mortgage rates ended nearly unchanged. The most significant economic report released this week was the report on existing home sales, and it was modestly disappointing. In January, […]

Weaker than expected retail sales data was offset by progress on a government funding agreement this week, and mortgage rates ended nearly unchanged. Consumer spending accounts for about 70% of all economic activity in the U.S., so the retail sales data is a key indicator of growth. The report for the important holiday shopping period […]

Sandwiched between recent major economic events and several more later in the month, there was little significant economic news this week, and mortgage rates ended slightly lower. Investors were mostly focused on bigger picture economic conditions this week, and their primary questions concerned the outlook for global growth. While the forecast for U.S. gross domestic […]

With some major economic data unavailable due to the government shutdown, and ahead of several major economic events in the near future, there was little market moving news this week, and mortgage rates ended nearly unchanged. One economic report which was released this week revealed that housing market activity tapered off near the end of […]

Due to the government shutdown, there was little major economic data released this week, and mortgage rates ended slightly higher. This week was more notable for the economic reports which did not get released rather than the ones that did. Tuesday’s Retail Sales report became the most significant data so far to be delayed by […]

There were no significant surprises in the major economic data or in the news from the Fed this week, and mortgage rates ended with little change. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) is a widely followed monthly inflation report that measures the price change for goods and services. Most investors look at core CPI, which excludes […]

Strong labor market data mostly offset weak manufacturing data and increased concern about the pace of global economic growth this week, and mortgage rates ended a little lower. Stronger than expected results for Friday’s key monthly Employment report were negative for mortgage rates, since they raised the outlook for future inflation. Against a consensus forecast […]

Continuing concern about the pace of global economic growth was good for mortgage rates and negative for stocks this week. The major U.S. economic data and the Fed meeting were smaller influences, and mortgage rates ended the week lower. As expected, the Fed raised the federal funds rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday. The […]