by Mark Chandik | Dec 28, 2023
Weekly Market Commentary Mortgage rates have soared, and home sales are down sharply. Conventional wisdom would suggest that prices should be down. But housing prices have defied expectations, rising to record heights and locking first-time buyers out of the market....
by Mark Chandik | Dec 18, 2023
Weekly Market Commentary The meeting held by the Federal Reserve last week was the most consequential gathering of central bankers this year. The Fed held the fed funds rate at 5.25 – 5.50% as expected, but in so many words, the Fed pivoted on its rate stance. No...
by Mark Chandik | Nov 20, 2023
Weekly Market Commentary The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was unchanged in October from the prior month. It is up 3.2% from a year ago. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, the core CPI rose 0.2%. The core...
by Mark Chandik | Oct 30, 2023
Weekly Market Commentary The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported last week that Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is the largest measure of goods and services for the economy, expanded at an annual pace of 4.9% in the third quarter. It’s the...
by Mark Chandik | Sep 25, 2023
Weekly Market Commentary The Federal Reserve surprised virtually no one when Fed officials unanimously voted to keep the fed funds rate unchanged at 5.25 – 5.50% on Wednesday. While it is the second time the Fed has punted on a rate hike this year (the last time was...
by Mark Chandik | Sep 18, 2023
Weekly Market Commentary Progress on inflation won’t be in a straight line. That’s to be expected. Following two low readings in June and July, the number picked up in August. It wasn’t unusually concerning. But following a 0.2% monthly increase in the Consumer Price...
