Labor/Economy
Economy Watch: Case-Shiller Home Prices Up in October
Newest S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices show the highest year-over-year gains since February 2006, and consumer confidence rebounds in December.
Economy Watch: Pending Home Sales Edge Up
Positive signals for the single-family market emerge from both The NAR, which reports that pending home sales inched up during November, and Lender Processing Services, which reveals that U.S. home prices increased 0.8 percent year-over-year as of October.
Economy Watch: Extended Unemployment Benefits Lapse for 1.3 Million Recipients
Extended unemployment benefits expire for 1.3 million people, and Freddie Mac’s delinquency rate drops to 2.43 percent—its lowest level since March 2009.
Economy Watch: Holiday Spending Rises Compared With ’12
Holiday spending rises 2.3 percent compared to last year, perhaps because consumers had a bit more money to spend.
‘Economy Watch’ Podcast with Dees Stribling: The Fed Finally Decides to Taper
The fed finally decides to ease of QE3, and the markets respond positively.
Economy Watch: New Home Sales Down in November
Single-family sales dip in November, while durable goods orders surge 3.5 percent. More good news comes from The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, which reports that its coincident indexes for November increased in 46 states.
Economy Watch: Annualized GDP Rate at 4.1 Percent for 3Q
Revised 3Q GDP increases to an annualized rate of 4.1 percent, while state unemployment levels continue to drop, with energy-booming North Dakota leading the way with a jobless rate of 2.6 percent.
Economy Watch: National Association of Realtors Reports Existing Home Sales Dropped
The National Association of Realtors reported total U.S. existing home sales, including single-family, condos and co-ops, dropped 4.3 percent in November compared with October, down to an annualized rate of 4.9 million units.
‘Economy Watch’ Podcast with Dees Stribling: Congress Comes to a Modest Fiscal Agreement
Congress comes to a modest fiscal agreement, and the Volcker rule is published.