Even though borrowing costs are falling, many businesses might still face a squeezeWhether interest-rate cuts from the Federal Reserve help engineer a soft landing depends only partly on how much weakness is under the hood of the U.S. economy. Success also depends on lower borrowing costs spurring new investment and spending to counteract any slowdown.Fed Chair Jerome Powell cast last week’s half-point reduction in interest rates as a show
While buyers face off for homes, real estate professionals compete for business, NAR data shows.Despite a sluggish summer for home sales, potential buyers are still facing pockets of steep competition in some parts of the housing market.Sixty percent of home sellers nationwide sold their home in less than a month, a sign of strong buyer demand, according to the latest REALTORS® Confidence Index, a survey of 1,600 NAR members. But the marke
Pending home sales edged up 0.6% in August, as declining mortgage rates made home purchases more affordable, according to data released Thursday by the National Association of RealtorsPending home sales edged up modestly in August, as declining mortgage rates made home purchases more affordable, according to new data released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).The Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) rose 0.6 percent to 70.6 in Au
Sales of new U.S. single-family homes fell less than expected in August and could regain momentum in the months ahead as declining mortgage rates and house prices stimulate demand.The report from the Commerce Department on Wednesday also showed new home sales were higher than previously estimated in the prior three months. The Federal Reserve last week cut interest rates by 50 basis points to the 4.75%-5.00% range, the first reduction in borrow
A modest improvement in housing affordability may motivate more home buyers to make a move. Read more from NAR’s latest housing report.Pending home sales rose slightly in August as lower mortgage rates provided some motivation to prospective home buyers. But buyers continue to face challenges such as high home prices, and many may be holding out for even lower rates, surveys show.The National Association of REALTORS®’ Pending Home Sales Ind
Consumers’ view on the economy tumbled in September, falling by the largest level in more than three years as fears grew about jobs and business conditions, the Conference Board reported Tuesday.The board’s consumer confidence index slid to 98.7, down from 105.6 in August, the biggest one-month decline since August 2021. The Dow Jones consensus forecast was for a reading of 104. By contrast, the index had a reading of 132.6 in Febru
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index improved to 0.12 in August from minus 0.42 in July Economic growth rebounded a little last month in the U.S., according to a monthly index set out Monday, though the broader trend remains weak amid high borrowing costs and political uncertainty.The Chicago Fed National Activity Index improved to 0.12 in August from minus 0.42 in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said. A reading above zero is associa
U.S. Treasury yields rose after the Fed cut short-term ratesThe Federal Reserve is finally cutting interest rates. One key gauge of borrowing costs has been going up anyway.Yields on longer-term U.S. Treasurys have ticked higher since the Fed approved a 0.5 percentage point rate-cut last week. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note, which helps set interest rates on everything from mortgages to corporate bonds, settl
One of the most consequential Federal Reserve meetings in recent history has put investors’ focus squarely on one question: whether the central bank has kicked off its rate cutting cycle in time to keep the economy from slowing too rapidly.The Fed delivered a 50 basis point rate cut on Wednesday - lowering borrowing costs for the first time in more than four years - and assured investors the jumbo-sized reduction was a measure to safe
Mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest levels since 2023 in 22 of the 50 largest US metros — even as rent prices continue to rise, according to a new analysis from Zillow released on Monday Monthly mortgage payments are now cheaper than rent in 22 of the 50 largest U.S. metros — a shot of cold comfort for renters aiming to jump into the market this fall, according to an analysis from Zillow released Monday.While mortgage rates have fal
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