October 10th, 2020
- The goods & services deficit was $67.1 billion in August, up $3.7 billion from $63.4 billion in July, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. August exports were $171.9 billion, $3.6 billion more than July exports. August imports were $239.0 billion, $7.4 billion more than July imports. The August increase in the goods and services deficit reflected an increase in the goods deficit of $3.0 billion to $83.9 billion and a decrease in the services surplus of $0.7 billion to $16.8 billion. Year-to-date, the goods and services deficit increased $22.6 billion, or 5.7%, from the same period in 2019. Exports decreased $296.1 billion or 17.6% and imports decreased $273.5 billion or 13.1%.
- State personal consumption expenditures (PCE) increased 3.9% in 2019, a deceleration from the 4.9% increase in 2018, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The percent change in PCE across all states ranged from 5.7% in Utah to 1.8% in Vermont. Expenditures on housing and utilities, and on health care grew 4.3% and 4.5%, respectively, and were the leading contributors to growth nationally.
- The number of job openings was little changed at 6.5 million on the last business day of August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Hires were little changed at 5.9 million in August. Total separations decreased to 4.6 million. Within separations, the quits rate was little changed at 2.0% while the layoffs and discharges rate decreased to a series low of 1.0%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 9 thousand to 840 thousand in the week ending October 3. The 4-week moving average was 857 thousand, a decrease of 13.25 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment (ongoing) during the week ending September 26 was 10,976 thousand, a decrease of 1,003 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 12,112.25 thousand, a decrease of 642 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 7.5% for the week ending September 26, a decrease of 0.7 percentage point from the previous week’s revised rate. It was stated that: “In response to recommendations resulting from an internal review of state operations, the state of California has announced a two week pause in its processing of initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits. The state will use this time to reduce its claims processing backlog and implement fraud prevention technology. Recognizing that the pause will likely result in significant week to week swings in initial claims for California and the nation unrelated to any changes in economic conditions, California’s initial claims published in the UI Claims News Release will reflect the level reported during the last week prior to the pause. Upon completion of the pause and the post-pause processing, the state will submit revised reports to reflect claims in the week during which they were filed.”
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates were little changed. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.87% for the week ending October 8, slightly down from last week when it averaged 2.88%. A year ago, at this time, the 30-year fixed-rate averaged 3.57%. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.37%, slightly up from last week when it averaged 2.36. A year ago, at this time, the 15-year fixed-rate averaged 3.05%.
- Mortgage applications increased 4.6% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending October 2,2020.
- There were 36,883,768 COVID-19 confirmed cases in the world, 1,068,198 deaths, and 25,663,552 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University, Coronavirus Resource Center (access date and time: 10/10/2020, 3:20 EST). In the United States, there are 7,664,676 confirmed cases, 213,787 deaths, and 3,039,089 recovered cases. The world is struggling to control the spread of the virus.
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October 2nd, 2020
- Total non-farm payroll employment increased 661 thousand in September, following an increase of 1,489 thousand in the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Private-sector payrolls increased by 877 thousand in September, while government employment decreased by 216 thousand. In September, notable job gains occurred in leisure and hospitality, in retail trade, in health care and social assistance, and in professional and business services. Employment in government declined over the month, mainly in state and local government education. The unemployment rate decreased to 7.9% in September, from 8.4% in August. The unemployment rate was 3.5% in September 2019.
- The number of unemployed decreased by 970 thousand to 12.580 million. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) increased by 781 thousand to 2.405 million and accounted for 19.1% of the unemployed. Among the unemployed, the number of persons on temporary layoff decreased by 1.5 million in September to 4.6 million. This measure is down considerably from the high of 18.1 million in April but is 3.8 million higher than in February.
- The labor force participation rate decreased to 61.4% in September, from 61.7% in August, while the employment-population ratio increased from 56.5% to 56.6%.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 to 34.7 hours.
- In September, average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 2 cents to $29.47. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 4.7%.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 36 thousand to 837 thousand in the week ending September 26. The 4-week moving average was 867.25 thousand, a decrease of 11.75 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment (ongoing) during the week ending September 19 was 11,767 thousand, a decrease of 980 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 12,701.25 thousand, a decrease of 381.25 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 8.1% for the week ending September 19, a decrease of 0.6 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. It was stated that: “In response to recommendations resulting from an internal review of state operations, the state of California has announced a two week pause in its processing of initial claims for unemployment insurance benefits. The state will use this time to reduce its claims processing backlog and implement fraud prevention technology. Recognizing that the pause will likely result in significant week to week swings in initial claims for California and the nation unrelated to any changes in economic conditions, California’s initial claims published in the UI Claims News Release will reflect the level reported during the last week prior to the pause. Upon completion of the pause and the post-pause processing, the state will submit revised reports to reflect claims in the week during which they were filed.”
- Unemployment rates were higher in August than a year earlier in 387 of the 389 metropolitan areas, and lower in 2 areas, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nonfarm payroll employment decreased over the year in 254 metropolitan areas and was essentially unchanged in 135 areas.
- Real GDP decreased at an annual rate of 31.4% in the second quarter of 2020, according to the “third” estimate by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP decreased 5.0%. In the second estimate, released a month ago, the decrease in real GDP was 31.7% for the second quarter.
- Real final sales of domestic product (GDP less change in private inventories) decreased 28.1% in the second quarter, following a decrease of 3.6% in the first quarter.
- Real gross domestic income (GDI) decreased 33.5% in the second quarter of 2020, following a decrease of 2.5% in the first quarter.
- The average of real GDP and real GDI, a supplemental measure of U.S. economic activity that equally weights GDP and GDI, decreased 32.5% in the second quarter, compared with a decrease of 3.7% in the previous quarter.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases decreased 1.4% in the second quarter of 2020, compared with an increase of 1.4% in the previous quarter.
- The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index decreased 1.6% in the second quarter, compared with an increase of 1.3% in the previous quarter. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index decreased 0.8% in the second quarter, compared with an increase of 1.6% in the previous quarter.
- Corporate profits from current production decreased $208.9 billion in the second quarter, in contrast to a decrease of $276.2 billion in the previous quarter. Profits of domestic financial corporations increased $26.5 billion in the second quarter, in contrast to a decrease of $42.2 billion in the previous quarter. Profits of domestic nonfinancial corporations decreased $145.9 billion, compared with a decrease of $190.5 billion in the previous quarter. The rest-of-the-world component of profits decreased $89.5 billion, compared with a decrease of $43.5 billion in the previous quarter.
- Personal income decreased 2.7% in August, and personal consumption expenditures increased 1.0%. The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.3% in August, following a 0.4% increase in the previous month. The core index also increased 0.4% in August. The headline index was up 1.4%, and the core index was up 1.6% from August 2019.
- Real gross domestic product (GDP) decreased in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in the second quarter of 2020, as real GDP for the nation decreased at an annual rate of 31.4 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The percent change in real GDP in the second quarter ranged from negative 20.4% in the District of Columbia to negative 42.2% in Hawaii and Nevada
- August construction spending was up 1.4% from the previous month and was up 2.5% from a year ago. Residential construction increased 3.7%, while nonresidential construction decreased 0.1%. Total private construction increased 1.9% in August, while total public construction increased 0.1%. Year-to-date total construction was up 4.2% from the same period in 2019. Total private construction was up 3.6% during the first eight months of the year from the same period in 2019, while total public consumption was up 6.1%.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed mortgage rates decreasing. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.88% for the week ending October 1, down slightly from last week when it averaged 2.90%. A year ago, at this time, the 30-year fixed rate averaged 3.65%. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.36%, down slightly from the previous week when it averaged 2.40%. A year ago, at this time, the 15-year fixed rate averaged 3.14%.
- Mortgage applications decreased 4.8% from one week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending September 25, 2020.
- The Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM) manufacturing survey indicated that the manufacturing sector grew in September, and the overall economy grew for the 5th consecutive month. The headline index was 55.4, a decrease of 0.6 percentage point from the August reading of 56.0.
- There were 34,324,207 COVID-19 confirmed cases in the world, 1,023,451 deaths, and 23,879,516 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University, Coronavirus Resource Center (access date and time: 10/2/2020, 7:00 EST). In the United States, there are 7,279,065 confirmed cases, 207,816 deaths, and 2,860,650 recovered cases. The world is struggling to control the spread of the virus.
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September 26th, 2020
- State personal income grew 34.2% on average in the second quarter of 2020, after increasing 4.1% in the first quarter, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The percent change in personal income ranged from 15.3% in the District of Columbia to 76.3% in Massachusetts.
- New orders for manufactured durable goods in August increased $1.0 billion or 0.4% to $232.8 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This increase, up four consecutive months, followed an 11.7% July increase. Excluding transportation, new orders increased 0.4%. Excluding defense, new orders increased 0.7%. Machinery, also up four consecutive months, led the increase by 1.5%.
- Shipments of manufactured durable goods in August, down following three consecutive monthly increases, decreased 0.3% to $244.1 billion. This followed a 7.6% July increase. Transportation equipment, also down following three consecutive monthly increases, drove the decrease, with 1.7%.
- Inventories of manufactured durable goods in August, down three consecutive months, decreased 0.1% to $420.5 billion. This followed a 0.8% July decrease. Machinery, down seven of the last eight months, led the decrease by 0.6%
- Sales of new single-family houses in August 2020 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,011 thousand, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 4.8% above the revised July rate of 965 thousand and is 43.2% above the August 2019 estimate. The median sales price of new houses sold in August 2020 was $312.8 thousand. The average sales price was $369 thousand. The seasonally adjusted estimate of new houses for sale at the end of August (inventory) was 282 thousand. This represents a supply of 3.3 months at the current sales rate.
- The median number of years that wage and salary workers had been with their current employer was 4.1 years in January 2020, little changed from 4.2 years in January 2018, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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September 19th, 2020
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for August were up 0.6% from the previous month, and were up 2.6% from a year ago, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Excluding motor vehicle & parts, retail sales were up 0.7% from the previous month and were up 2.1% from a year ago. Year-to-date, retail sales were down 1.8% from the first eight months of 2019.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for July increased 3.2% from June, following an 8.6% increase in the previous month, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Inventories increased 0.1%, following a 1.1% decrease in the previous month. The total business inventories/sales ratio was 1.33 in July, compared with 1.39 a year ago.
- Housing starts in August were down 5.1% from the previous month but were up 2.8% from a year ago. Building permits were down 0.9% from the previous month and were down 0.1% from August 2019.
- The current account deficit increased to $170.5 billion in the second quarter, from $111.5 billion in the first quarter, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. This is the largest deficit recorded since the third quarter of 2008 when it was $178.2 billion. The deficit increased to 3.5% of current-dollar gross domestic product (GDP) from 2.1% in the first quarter.
- The net worth of households and nonprofits rose to $119.0 trillion at the end of second quarter of 2020, compared with $111.3 trillion at the end of the first quarter, and $114.0 trillion at the end of second quarter of 2019.
- Domestic nonfinancial debt expanded at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 25.3% in the second quarter of 2020, compared with an annual rate of 10.6% in the previous quarter.
- Domestic nonfinancial debt outstanding was $59.3 trillion at the end of the second quarter of 2020, of which household debt was $16.1 trillion, nonfinancial business debt was $17.6 trillion, and total government debt was $25.6 trillion.
- Unemployment rates were lower in August in 41 states, higher in 2 states, and stable in 7 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. All fifty states and the District of Columbia had jobless rate increases from a year earlier. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 40 states in August 2020 and was essentially unchanged in 10 states and the District of Columbia. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 49 states and the District of Columbia and was essentially unchanged in 1 state.
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September 12th, 2020
- The producer price index for total final demand increased 0.3% in August, following a 0.6% increase in the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The index for final demand less foods, energy and trade increased 0.3%, the same increase as in the previous month. The producer price index for final demand decreased 0.2% from August 2019 to August 2020, while the index for final demand less foods, energy and trade increased 0.3%.
- Import prices increased 0.9% in August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, following a 1.2% increase in the previous month. Prices for imports decreased 1.4% from August 2019. The price index for exports increased 0.5% in August, after a 0.9% increase in the previous month. Prices for exports decreased 2.8% over the past year.
- Both the headline and the core consumer price index increased 0.4% in August, following a 0.6% increase as in the previous month. The consumer price index increased 1.3% for the 12-month period ending in August, while the core index rose 1.7%.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees were unchanged from July to August. This result stems from 0.4% increase in average hourly earnings offset by a 0.4% increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers.
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September 6th, 2020
- Total non-farm payroll employment rose by 1,371 thousand in August, following an increase of 1,734 thousand in the previous month, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Private-sector payrolls increased by 1,027 thousand, while government employment increased by 344 thousand. In August, an increase in government employment largely reflected temporary hiring for the 2020 Census. Notable job gains also occurred in retail trade, in professional and business services, in leisure and hospitality, and in education and health services.
- The unemployment rate decreased to 8.4% in August, from 10.2% in July. The unemployment rate was 3.7% in August 2019.
- The number of unemployed decreased by 2,788 thousand to 13.550 million. The number of long-term unemployed (those jobless for 27 weeks or more) increased by 123 thousand to 1.624 million.
- The labor force participation rate increased by 0.3 percentage point to 61.7% in August.
- The average workweek of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 0.1 hours to 34.6 hours.
- In August, average hourly earnings of all employees on private nonfarm payrolls increased by 11 cents to $29.47. Over the past 12 months, average hourly earnings were up 4.7%.
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August 30th, 2020
- Real GDP decreased at an annual rate of 31.7% in the second quarter of 2020, according to the “second” estimate by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. In the first quarter, real GDP decreased 5.0%. In the advance estimate, released a month ago, the decrease in real GDP was 32.9% for the second quarter.
- Real final sales of domestic product (GDP less change in private inventories) decreased 28.5% in the second quarter, following a decrease of 3.6% in the first quarter.
- Real gross domestic income (GDI) decreased 33.1% in the second quarter of 2020, following a decrease of 2.5% in the first quarter.
- The average of real GDP and real GDI, a supplemental measure of U.S. economic activity that equally weights GDP and GDI, decreased 32.4% in the second quarter, compared with a decrease of 3.7% in the previous quarter.
- The price index for gross domestic purchases decreased 1.5% in the second quarter of 2020, compared with an increase of 1.4% in the previous quarter.
- The personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index decreased 1.8% in the second quarter, compared with an increase of 1.3% in the previous quarter. Excluding food and energy prices, the PCE price index decreased 1.0% in the second quarter, compared with an increase of 1.6% in the previous quarter.
- Corporate profits from current production decreased $226.9 billion in the second quarter, in contrast to a decrease of $276.2 billion in the previous quarter. Profits of domestic financial corporations increased $39.5 billion in the second quarter, in contrast to a decrease of $42.2 billion in the previous quarter. Profits of domestic nonfinancial corporations decreased $170.1 billion, compared with a decrease of $190.5 billion in the previous quarter. The rest-of-the-world component of profits decreased $96.2 billion, compared with a decrease of $43.5 billion in the previous quarter.
- Personal income increased 0.4% in July, and personal consumption expenditures increased 1.9%. The price index for personal consumption expenditures increased 0.3% in July, following a 0.5% increase in the previous month. The core index also increased 0.3% in July. The headline index was up 1.0%, and the core index was up 1.3% from July 2019.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 98 thousand to 1,006 thousand in the week ending August 22. The 4-week moving average was 1,068 thousand, a decrease of 107.25 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment (ongoing) during the week ending August 15 was 14,535 thousand, a decrease of 223 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 15,215.75 thousand, a decrease of 604 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 9.9% for the week ending August 15, a decrease of 0.2 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. It was stated that: “Beginning with the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Weekly Claims News Release issued Thursday, September 3, 2020, the methodology used to seasonally adjust the national initial claims and continued claims will reflect additive factors as opposed to multiplicative factors.”
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed that average fixed mortgage rates were falling. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.91% for the week ending August 27, down from last week when it averaged 2.99%. A year ago, the 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 3.58%. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.46%, down from the previous week when it averaged 2.54%. A year ago, the 15-year fixed mortgage rate was 3.06%.
- Mortgage applications decreased 6.5% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending August 26th.
- The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan Index of Consumer Sentiment increased to 74.1 in August, from 72.5 in July. The Index was 89.8 a year ago. The Current Conditions Index inched up from 82.8 in July to 82.9 in August, while the Index of Consumer Expectations increased to 68.5 in August, from 65.9 in July.
- There were 24,996,456 COVID-19 confirmed cases in the world, 842,499 deaths, and 16,409,757 recovered, according to Johns Hopkins University, Coronavirus Resource Center (access date and time: 8/30/2020, 1:30 EST). In the United States, there are 5,961,094 confirmed cases, 182,761 deaths, and 2,140,614 recovered cases. The world is struggling to control the spread of the virus.
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August 22nd, 2020
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance increased 135 thousand to 1,106 thousand in the week ending August 15. The 4-week moving average was 1,175.75 thousand, a decrease of 79 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment (ongoing) during the week ending August 8 was 14,844 thousand, a decrease of 636 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 15,841.25 thousand, a decrease of 326.75 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 10.2% for the week ending August 8, a decrease of 0.4 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. It was stated that: “The COVID-19 virus continues to impact the number of initial claims and insured unemployment. This report now includes information on claimants filing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation claims.”
- Unemployment rates were lower in July in 30 states, higher in 9 states, and stable in 11 states and the District of Columbia, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. All 50 states and the District had jobless rate increases from a year earlier. Nonfarm payroll employment increased in 40 states and the District of Columbia, decreased in 1 state, and was essentially unchanged in 9 states in July 2020. Over the year, nonfarm payroll employment decreased in 49 states and the District and was essentially unchanged in 1 state.
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey of August 20th showed average fixed mortgage rates inched up. 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.99% for the week ending August 20, up from last week when it averaged 2.96%. A year ago, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.55%. 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 2.54%, up from last week when it averaged 2.46%. %. A year ago, the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.03%.
- Mortgage applications decreased 3.3% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending August 14th.
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August 15th, 2020
- Advance estimates of retail and food services sales for July were up 1.2% from the previous month and were up 2.7% from July 2019. Year-to-date, retail sales were down 2.1% from the same period a year ago.
- Total manufacturing and trade sales for June were up 8.4% from the previous month, and inventories were down 1.1%. The total business inventories/sales ratio at the end of June was 1.37, compared with 1.39 in June 2019.
- Total Industrial production increased 3.0% in July, following a 5.7% increase in the previous month. The index of industrial production in July was 8.2% below its year-ago level. The rate of capacity utilization for total industry was 70.6%, 9.2 percentage points below its 1972-2019 average, and 6.8 percentage points below its level in July 2019.
- The import price index increased 0.7% in July, following a 1.4% increase in the previous month. The export price index increased 0.8%, following a 1.2% increase in the previous month. The import price index decreased 3.3% from July 2019, while export prices decreased 4.4%.
- The producer price index for final demand (headline index) increased 0.6% in July, following a 0.2% decrease in the previous month. The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade increased 0.3%, the same increase as in the previous month. The producer price index for final demand decreased 0.4% for the 12 months ended in July. The index for final demand less foods, energy, and trade decreased 0.1% during the same period.
- The consumer price index increased 0.6% in July, the same increase as in the previous month. The core index increased 0.6%, following a 0.2% increase in the previous month. The consumer price index (headline index) increased 1.0% for the 12-month period ending in July, and the core index rose 1.6%.
- Real average hourly earnings for all employees decreased 0.4% from June to July. This result stems from a 0.2% increase in average hourly earnings being more than offset by a 0.6% increase in the consumer price index for all urban consumers.
- Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 7.3% in the second quarter of 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, as output decreased 38.9% and hours worked decreased 43.0%. From the second quarter of 2019 to the second quarter of 2020, productivity increased 2.2%, reflecting an 11.8% decrease in output and a 13.7% decrease in hours worked. Unit labor costs in the nonfarm business sector increased 12.2% in the second quarter of 2020 and increased 5.7% over a year ago.
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 228 thousand to 963 thousand in the week ending August 8. The 4-week moving average was 1,252.75 thousand, a decrease of 86.25 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment (ongoing) during the week ending August 1 was 15,486 thousand, a decrease of 604 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 16,169.5 thousand, a decrease of 454.5 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 10.6% for the week ending August 1, a decrease of 0.4 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. It was stated that: “The COVID-19 virus continues to impact the number of initial claims and insured unemployment. This report now includes information on claimants filing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation claims.”
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates moved up. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.96% for the week ending August 13, up from last week when it averaged 2.88%. A year ago, the 30-year fixed rate averaged 3.60%. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.46%, up from last week when it averaged 2.44%. year ago, the 15-year fixed rate averaged 3.07%.
- Mortgage applications decreased 5.1% from a week earlier, according to data from Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Applications Survey for the week ending July 31st.
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August 8th, 2020
- The advance figure for initial claims for unemployment insurance decreased 249 thousand to 1,186 thousand in the week ending August 1. The 4-week moving average was 1,337.75 thousand, a decrease of 31 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance number for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment (ongoing) during the week ending July 25 was 16,107 thousand, a decrease of 844 thousand from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 16,628.25 thousand, a decrease of 413.25 thousand from the previous week’s revised average. The advance seasonally adjusted insured unemployment rate was 11.0% for the week ending July 25, a decrease of 0.6 percentage point from the previous week’s unrevised rate. It was stated that: “The COVID-19 virus continues to impact the number of initial claims and insured unemployment. This report now includes information on claimants filing Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation claims.”
- The results of Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey showed average fixed mortgage rates dropped, hitting a record low for the eight time this year. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.88% for the week ending August 6, down from last week when it averaged 2.99%. A year ago, the 30-year fixed rate averaged 3.60%. The 15-year fixed mortgage rate averaged 2.44%, down from last week when it averaged 2.51%. A year ago, the 15-year fixed rate averaged 3.05%.
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