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Lending is strong as borrowers tap their credit

Jul 18, 2022
Banks are reporting increased lending to both consumers and businesses.
People have been spending more on their credit cards, and some are using buy-now, pay-later services, says Andrew Davidson with Comperemedia.
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Some homebuilders are dropping prices as mortgage rates rise, economist says

People "desperately want to purchase," but are stepping out of the difficult market, says Ali Wolf, chief economist at Zonda.
"It's a very tricky thing because the builders are trying to drum up demand, while also trying to keep their buyers in backlog — those that have already signed a contract — happy," says Ali Wolf, chief economist at Zonda.
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Why the Fed's plans to shrink its balance sheet could get complicated

Jul 12, 2022
The central bank has made its portfolio a key part of monetary policy. But the balance sheet's economic impact isn't entirely clear, experts say.
As the Fed has scooped up assets to carry out quantitative easing, some are asking: At what cost? Above, the Federal Reserve building in Washington, D.C.
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Flipping homes is more popular than it's been in decades, thanks to the hot housing market

Jun 28, 2022
But profit margins are shrinking, and the flipping boom may be coming to an end.
Rick Sharga with Attom Data Solutions said he expects to see less house flipping because it's becoming less profitable.
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Central bankers' group sees a "narrow path" to rein in inflation and maintain growth

Jun 27, 2022
It's largely about preventing “inflationary psychology” from becoming entrenched, the Bank for International Settlements said.
The Bank for International Settlements warned that “inflationary psychology” could become entrenched and self-reinforcing. But the effort to douse inflation comes with risk of its own.
Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Are rising mortgage rates already cooling the hot real estate market?

Jun 20, 2022
The number of pending sales is down from last year, but homes are still selling quickly.
Mortgage rates have doubled since a year ago to about 6%, but homes are still selling swiftly.
Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images

For public good, not for profit.

The dollar's strong right now. That's a problem for American companies doing business abroad.

Jun 7, 2022
But it's great for Americans who want to buy imports.
A strong U.S. dollar is great for Americans who want to buy foreign products. For American companies that sell products abroad? Not so much.
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Rising interest rates and soaring home prices put mortgage payments out of reach for many

May 26, 2022
The median payment on a new mortgage increased almost 9% from March to April.
Pending home sales declined by 3.9% in April, the sixth consecutive monthly drop.
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Reading the Federal Reserve minutes can feel like hours, but Fed watchers still pore over them

May 24, 2022
For those who understand Fed lingo, the minutes can hint at divisions or disagreements, and where Fed policy may be headed.
Fed Chair Jerome Powell at a news conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on May 4. We'll get the minutes for that meeting Wednesday afternoon. Get your coffee ready.
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