Newsletters

June is National Mango Month and these Mango Pops courtesy of Delish make for a refreshing and delicious treat. Yields 9. In a blender, combine 2 10-ounce bags frozen mango, 1/2 cup orange juice, and 1/4 cup lime juice and blend until smooth. Spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray (to help the plastic […]

Initial Jobless Claims rose by 3,000 in the latest week, with 219,000 people filing new unemployment claims. There were also 1.791 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim, as Continuing Claims increased by 4,000. What’s the bottom line? With the Job Openings and Labor Turnover Summary (JOLTS) report showing that the pace […]

The U.S. economy grew more slowly than previously thought during the first quarter, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis, as their second estimate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for that period showed 1.3% growth. This was down from the 1.6% pace that was initially reported and well below the 3.4% growth seen in the fourth […]

The Case-Shiller Home Price Index, which is considered the “gold standard” for appreciation, showed home prices nationwide rose 0.3% from February to March after seasonal adjustment. Home values in March were also 6.5% higher than a year earlier, unchanged from the previous report. The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) House Price Index also reported a […]

 Pending Home Sales fell 7.7% from March to April per the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), coming in well below estimates of a modest decline. Sales were also 7.4% lower than they were a year earlier. This report measures signed contracts on existing homes, making it an important forward-looking indicator for closings on these homes […]

April’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) showed that headline inflation rose 0.3% from March, with the year-over-year reading holding steady at 2.7%. Core PCE, the Fed’s preferred method which strips out volatile food and energy prices, also rose by 0.2% monthly. The year-over-year reading remained at 2.8%, stalling progress toward the Fed’s 2% target. What’s the […]

Celebrate National Scone Day on May 30 with these delicious Currant Scones from Martha Stewart. Yields 12 scones. Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl, stir together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 2 teaspoons baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 2 tablespoons […]

The number of people filing new unemployment claims declined by 8,000, with 215,000 Initial Jobless Claims reported in the latest week. This followed a decline of 9,000 in the previous week, marking the biggest back-to-back drop since September. Continuing Claims rose by 8,000, with 1.794 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim. […]

The minutes from the Fed’s April 30-May 1 meeting were released last week, which showed that members had growing concerns about inflation. This wasn’t a surprise, given that the meeting followed a string of reports showing inflation was more persistent than expected in the first quarter of this year. Since the Fed met, reports have […]

New Home Sales, which measure signed contracts on new homes, fell 4.7% from March to April, missing forecasts that were expecting them to rise. Signed contracts were also 7.7% lower than they were in April of last year. What’s the bottom line? This report measures buyers who were shopping for homes last month when rates […]

Sales of existing homes fell 1.9% in April to a 4.14-million-unit annualized pace, per the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), though sales in March were revised higher and this offset some of the decline. This report measures closings on existing homes in April and likely reflects people shopping for homes in February and March. What’s […]

Housing highlights include April’s Existing Home Sales on Wednesday and New Home Sales on Thursday. The latest Jobless Claims will also be reported on Thursday. Plus, the minutes from the Fed’s latest meeting will be released on Wednesday and a parade of Fed speakers throughout the week always has the potential to move the markets.

Get ready for barbecue season with this easy and delicious recipe for Grilled Vegetables courtesy of the Food Network. Yields 6 servings. Place a grill pan over medium high heat or turn on your barbecue to medium-high. Cut 3 red bell peppers in half. Gather 3 yellow squash, 3 zucchini, and 3 Japanese eggplant and […]

Initial Jobless Claims fell by 10,000 in the latest week as 222,000 people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continuing Claims rose 13,000, with 1.794 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim. What’s the bottom line? While Initial Jobless Claims declined from the previous week, they remain in breakout territory […]

There are signs that consumers are reining in their spending, as Retail Sales were unchanged from March to April. Sales in March were also revised downward from the originally reported 0.7% gain to a 0.6% gain when compared to February. What’s the bottom line? The pause in spending last month was a miss on estimates, […]