Economy Watch: Employment Numbers Disappoint Severely in June
The number of jobs created in June was far offset by the number lost; a bill is introduced that would merge Fannie and Freddie; and the debt ceiling clock ticks loudly.
Economy Watch: Mixed Jobs Reports So Far This Week
Jobs numbers are mixed for June, with both mass layoffs and added jobs reported; non-manufacturing numbers are down; and a Freedom of Information Act request reveals new information about big 2008 loans.
Economy Watch: U.S. Manufacturing Gains Steam Again
Orders of manufactured goods made gains in May; bankruptcy filings were down in the first half of this year; and Portuguese debt gets downgraded to junk status.
Economy Watch: U.S. Construction Slumps Again
Construction spending dropped in May; Japan’s post-quake economy is moving toward recovery; and consumer sentiment dropped in June.
PODCAST: Economy Watch Weekly with Dees Stribling
For the week ending July 1, home prices were up for once; consumer confidence and sentiment were down; and investors in the Eurozone were happy to learn that Greece won’t be crumbling to ruins.
Economy Watch: Home Prices Up, Especially the Non-Distressed Variety
CoreLogic reports that housing prices were up in May; most of the largest U.S. counties saw unemployment increase last year; and the Fed bids farewell to quantitative easing.
Economy Watch: Bank of America to Pay $8B to Settle Countrywide Claims
BofA will pay $8.5 billion to aggrieved mortgage-backed bondholders sold by Countrywide; owning a home is still part of the American dream; and pending home sales were up last month.
Economy Watch: Case-Shiller Index Sees Surprise Uptick, but Is It Meaningful?
The Case-Shiller 20-city index went up in April; consumer confidence went down in May; and the number of mortgage loan fraud reports went up in the first quarter.
Economy Watch: Gas Prices and Nervousness Constrain Consumer Spending in May
Consumer spending wasn’t any better in May than it was in April; income barely rose in May; and financiers in Europe are reportedly receptive to a suggestion that much of the Greek debt be rolled over by private creditors.
Economy Watch: Greek Parliament Debates More Austerity
The Greek parliament debates austerity measures needed to receive more bailout money; Freddie Mac reports that mortgage delinquencies are down; and U.S. GDP growth decelerates.