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September 26 is National Pancake Day and these Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes courtesy of the Food Network are equal parts light, fluffy and delicious. Yields 4 to 6 servings. In a large bowl, sift together 2 cups all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 teaspoon baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. In a […]

Initial Jobless Claims fell by 12,000 in the latest week, with 219,000 people filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continuing Claims also declined by 14,000, as 1.829 million people are still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim. What’s the bottom line? Continuing Claims have now topped 1.8 million for 15 straight weeks, […]

Retail Sales rose 0.1% in August, above the 0.2% decline the market was expecting. Sales in July were also revised higher to 1.1%, which may have been due in part to Amazon Prime Day, where we saw $14.2 billion in sales. The Core reading, which gets plugged into GDP, rose 0.3% while July’s reading was […]

After a disappointing July, Housing Starts rose 9.6% from July to August, hitting their fastest pace since April. Starts for single-family homes, which are especially crucial due to buyer demand, were also higher with a whopping 15.8% rise. There was a similar trend in future construction, with Building Permits moving higher from July to August […]

Falling mortgage rates have led to an improvement in home builder sentiment. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) reported that their Housing Market Index increased two points to 41 in September. However, sentiment remains in contraction territory below the key breakeven threshold of 50. What’s the bottom line? While builders are still pessimistic, we […]

Existing Home Sales were weaker than estimates per the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), as August’s transactions were down 2.5% from July and 4.2% from a year ago. This report measures closings on existing homes in August and likely reflects people shopping for homes in June and July, before rates made their latest leg lower. […]

The Fed’s new easing cycle began last week, as they cut their benchmark Federal Funds Rate by 50 basis points, bringing it to a new range of 4.75% to 5%. This decision was not unanimous, however, as Fed Governor Michelle Bowman wanted a less aggressive 25 basis point cut. The Fed Funds Rate is the […]

The Fed’s 2-day meeting begins Tuesday, with their Monetary Policy Statement and press conference following Wednesday afternoon. The Fed is expected to cut its benchmark Fed Funds Rate, with the question again being whether that cut will be 25 or 50 basis points. We also have a full week of housing news with NAHB’s home […]

Fall is nearly here, which means soup season is, too! Enjoy this easy Minestrone Soup from the Food Network all season long. Yields 6 servings. Heat 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add 1 large onion (diced) and cook until translucent, around 4 minutes. Add 4 cloves garlic […]

Initial Jobless Claims were little changed in the latest week (+2,000), with 230,000 people filing for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continuing Claims also saw a slight increase of 5,000, as 1.85 million people are still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim. What’s the bottom line? The measured week for Initial Jobless Claims […]

CoreLogic’s Home Price Index showed that home prices nationwide were essentially flat in July after strong growth seen from March through June. Prices were also 4.3% higher when compared to July of last year. CoreLogic forecasts that home prices will rise 0.2% in August and 2.2% in the year going forward, though their forecasts tend […]

The Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures inflation on the wholesale level, rose 0.2% in August, with the annual reading falling from a downwardly revised 2.1% to 1.7%. Core PPI, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, rose 0.3% for the month and the year-over-year reading ticked higher from 2.3% to 2.4%. What’s the […]

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) showed more progress on headline inflation, as consumer prices rose 2.5% for the 12 months ending in August. This marked a slowing from July’s 2.9% annual gain and the lowest reading since February 2021. The Core measure, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, increased 0.3% from July, […]

Football is back! These Spiced Nuts courtesy of Taste of Home make for a perfect game day snack. In a bowl, beat 3 large egg whites and 2 teaspoons water until frothy. Add 2 12-ounce cans salted peanuts, 1 cup whole blanched almonds, and 1 cup walnut halves and stir gently to coat. In a […]

ICE (formerly known as Black Knight) reported that national home values rose 0.2% in July after seasonal adjustment, with their index showing that prices are 3.6% higher than a year ago, down from 4.1% in the previous report. What’s the bottom line? ICE is not alone in their findings, as home price gains continue to […]