Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Chicago's Mortgage Choice - March 28, 2017 Real Estate Report - Alternative Reality

No, we are not delving into the world of science fiction. We can't change what happened. But sometimes it is interesting to wonder what would have happened if an event did not take place. In this case, we are referring to the Federal Reserve Board raising short-term interest rates. As we have previously explained, the move was a "no-brainer." The markets were surely expecting the increase. Therefore, it would have been a surprise if the Fed held rates steady. The markets don't like surprises. And a layman might have surmised that rates would have come down if the Fed kept rates where they are. Yet, that conclusion is not necessarily accurate. If the markets feel that inflation is becoming more of a threat and the Federal Reserve is not doing its job to rein in inflation, then long-term interest rates could move up even faster than they have already risen. This is why the Fed can raise interest rates at times and long-term rates can actually go down -- though presently short-term rates have not gone up high enough for the analysts to predict that they will halt economic growth. More evidence on the state of the economy is on the way. This week we have a report on personal income and spending, and next week we will see another jobs report. Coming after a strong report for February's data, you can be sure that market analysts and the Fed will be watching closely for evidence that the economy and inflation are heating up. If we see that evidence, there will be speculation that another rate increase will be coming sooner, rather than later. A disappointing jobs report could make the Fed pause and ponder whether they are moving too quickly. That would be bad news for the economy, but good news for rates. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Chicago's Mortgage Choice - March 14, 2017 Real Estate Report - The Jobs Report and Fed Meeting

The data is in. The jobs report has been released and the Federal Reserve Board's Open Market Committee is meeting as we release this publication. Keep in mind that the employment numbers are a major factor in affecting the Fed's decision -- but they are not the only factor. The stock market rally, which indicates confidence, as well as inflationary indicators, are also watched closely. As a matter of fact, the numbers on wage growth might be almost as important as the jobs numbers themselves. Last month, wage growth came in 2.8% on an annual basis and this is seen as good news for workers but bad news on the inflation front. Add a strong stock market and rising wage growth to the fact that the economy added 235,000 jobs last month and the unemployment rate ticked down to 4.7%, and you can see why the markets are predicting a rate increase. You might ask why a rising stock market would affect the Fed's thinking. We have already spoken about the stock market's indirect influence upon the economy. Certainly, the growth of equity will make those who own stocks more confident in making large purchases, and this has the potential to boast the economy. However, there is a more direct link between the Fed and the rise in the stock market. The last thing the Fed wants to do is raise rates and stifle the economy. With the stock market so strong right now, the Fed is much more likely to conclude that the economy can withstand the news of higher rates. If consumers are uncertain, piling on a rate increase just makes things worse. If consumers are hopeful, they are much less likely to envision higher rates as a roadblock to success. Of course, this is all speculation, and by the time you read this commentary, you are likely to know what the Fed was really thinking. Keith Stewart 773-529-7000