Research Center
Economy Watch: Foreclosures Now 28 Percent of All Residential Sales
Foreclosures make up a slightly higher percentage of the residential sales; GDP growth is dragging its feet; and gas prices have not dampened American travel plans.
Economy Watch: OEDC Sees Worldwide Recovery, with Caveats
The Organisation for Economic Development and Cooperation is mostly optimistic about global economic growth; the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s index shows house prices down last quarter; and Congress seems to be taking the debt ceiling less seriously than political theater.
Economy Watch: New Home Sales Edge Upward in April
New home sales ticked upward by 7.3 percent last month; Chrysler pays off its debt to the U.S. and Canadian governments; and banks just had their best quarter in four years.
Economy Watch: California AG Targets Mortgage Fraud
The state of California has created a mortgage-fraud task force; Toys R Us is putting in the country’s largest largest solar rooftop installation; and the Chicago Fed National Activity Index took a dive last month.
Economy Watch: Unemployment Edges Down in Most States
Labor statistics for April vary from state to state; IMF makes a 26 billion-euro loan to Portugal; and Donald Trump’s school is under investigation.
PODCAST: Economy Watch Weekly with Dees Stribling
For the week ending May 20, home sales were down, but so were foreclosures. And foreign buyers are showing more interest in the U.S. residential housing market.
Economy Watch: MBA Reports Fewer Homes in Foreclosure
MBA reports that mortgage foreclosures dropped in 1Q11; NAR reports that existing home sales dropped in April; and the Conference Board’s index shows leading indicators down in April.
Economy Watch: Housing Starts Contract in April
The annualized rate of homebuilding dropped 10.6 percent from March to April; Geithner would prefer to not be the first Treasury secretary to preside over a default by the federal government; and Wal-Mart sees a dip in sales.
Economy Watch: Homebuilders Remain Dour
Builder confidence remains mired in pessimism; the economy is still the biggest concern for most Americans; and the United States has officially hit its debt ceiling, meaning default looms large.
Economy Watch: Price Spike, Led by Usual-Suspect Gasoline
While the consumer price index rose in April, led by food and energy, real hourly earnings fell behind. And while the Sahara in Vegas closes, another giant casino opens in China.