Markets In A Minute for week ending Feb 15, 2019: Unemployment goes up, retail sales down
This week on The Markets In a Minute: Unemployment goes up, retail sales go down, home price reports
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- Producer prices fell for a 2nd straight month in January, leading to the smallest annual increase in 1-1/2 years. Low or absent inflationary pressure is good for interest rates.
- Retail sales recorded their biggest drop in 9+ years in December as receipts fell across the board, suggesting a slowdown in economic activity at the end of 2018.
- Unemployment goes up, pushing the 4-week moving average of claims to its highest level in just over a year & suggesting some moderation in job growth.
- Most markets across the country are still seeing home prices inch up, although at a slower pace than in previous quarters. The national median price is $257,600.
- The home theater is moving out of the basement and into the main living area. Home theaters are being replaced by comfy, cozy multifunctional media rooms.
- A new report shows that only 13% of offers written by agents for their clients faced a bidding war last month—down significantly from 53% a year ago.
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“Permanence, perseverance and persistence in spite of all obstacles, discouragements, and impossibilities: It is this, that in all things distinguishes the strong soul from the weak.”
–Thomas Carlyle
| Rate movements and volatility are based on published, aggregate national averages and measured from the previous to the most recent midweek daily reporting period. These rate trends can differ from our own and are subject to change at any time. |
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