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Celebrate July 4 with these refreshing Red, White and Blue Ice Pops from the Food Network. Yields 6. Place six 3-to-4-ounce ice pop molds in the freezer for 30 minutes. Combine 2 cups strawberries (hulled and roughly chopped) and 1 tablespoon each of coconut cream, and honey in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour […]

Initial Jobless Claims fell by 6,000 in the latest week, with 233,000 people filing new unemployment claims. There were also 1.839 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim, as Continuing Claims increased by 18,000. What’s the bottom line? Initial Jobless Claims followed three straight weeks of increases with a modest decline of […]

The U.S. economy grew more slowly than previously thought during the first quarter, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis, as their final reading of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for that period showed 1.4% growth. While this was above the 1.3% pace in the second estimate, it is ultimately lower than the 1.6% pace in the […]

The Case-Shiller Home Price Index, which is considered the “gold standard” for appreciation, showed home prices nationwide rose 0.3% from March to April after seasonal adjustment. Home values in April were also 6.3% higher than a year earlier, following a 6.5% gain in March. The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) House Price Index also reported […]

Pending Home Sales fell 2.1% from April to May per the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), coming in well below estimates of a 2.5% rise, following a 7.5% decline seen from March to April. Sales were also 6.6% lower than they were a year earlier. This report measures signed contracts on existing homes, making it […]

New Home Sales, which measure signed contracts on new homes, fell 11.3% from April to May, significantly missing forecasts that were expecting a rise. Signed contracts were also 16.5% lower than they were in May of last year. What’s the bottom line? Despite the pullback in sales, demand for new construction remains strong due to […]

While May’s Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) showed that headline inflation was unchanged from April, the year-over-year reading declined from 2.7% to 2.6%. Core PCE, the Fed’s preferred method which strips out volatile food and energy prices, rose by less than 0.1% monthly. The year-over-year reading declined from 2.8% to 2.6%, an encouraging drop for the […]

Navigating the complexities of mortgage rates can significantly impact the affordability of your home. A lower mortgage rate not only results in manageable monthly payments but also enhances your buying power. Here’s a guide to understanding the various factors that determine mortgage rates and how you can secure a favorable rate from a trustworthy lender. […]

Mortgage Bonds and the 10-year Treasury ended the week mostly unchanged as they have been the past week, and continue to trade sideways in wide ranges between support and resistance. Mortgage-Backed Securities are between a tough overhead ceiling of resistance at 100.872 and a triple floor of support at the 100.427 Fibonacci level and 100 […]

More housing news is ahead, starting Tuesday with appreciation data for April from Case-Shiller and the Federal Housing Finance Agency. May’s New and Pending Home Sales follow on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively. Also on Thursday, look for the final reading on first quarter GDP and the latest Jobless Claims. Friday brings a critical inflation update […]

June 26 is National Chocolate Pudding Day. This recipe courtesy of Taste of Home adds peanut butter for an extra special treat. Yields 8 servings. In a heavy saucepan, combine 1 cup sugar, 1/2 cup baking cocoa, 1/4 cup cornstarch and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Gradually add 4 cups whole milk. Bring to a boil over […]

Initial Jobless Claims fell by 5,000 in the latest week as 238,000 people filed for unemployment benefits for the first time. Continuing Claims rose 15,000, with 1.83 million people still receiving benefits after filing their initial claim. What’s the bottom line? While Initial Jobless Claims fell last week, they remain at elevated levels, with the […]

There are signs that consumers are slowing their spending, as Retail Sales were only 0.1% higher from April to May. Sales in April were also revised downward from the originally reported flat reading to a 0.2% loss when compared to March. What’s the bottom line? The pause in spending last month was a miss on […]

Housing Starts fell 5.5% from April to May, coming in well below what economists had forecasted. Starts for single-family homes, which make up the bulk of homebuilding and are the most crucial due to buyer demand, were also lower at a 5.2% decline. There was a similar trend in future construction, with Building Permits moving […]

Confidence among home builders remains below the key breakeven threshold of 50, per the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), as their Housing Market Index dropped 2 points to 43 in June. Any score over 50 on this index, which runs from 0 to 100, signals that more builders view conditions as good than poor. […]