Realtor.com recently published its October Monthly Housing Trends Report, which revealed further effects of the Fed’s aggressive interest rate hikes on the housing market. The data indicates an indisputable cooldown of the real estate market nationwide. However, we are still a long way away from pre-pandemic levels. “As the rapid run-up in rates reshapes housing market dynamics this fall,...

Without any surprises, the Federal Reserve Bank reinforced its hawkish interest rate hike policy with a fourth consecutive 75 bps increase, lifting the target for the benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 3.75% to 4%, its highest level since 2008. If Fed Chair Jerome Powell is to be believed, it is not the last rise we will see. “It is very premature to be thinking about pausing. We still have some...

Although inflation remains stubbornly high in the United States, the aggressive interest hike policy initiated by the Federal Reserve in March continues to show its effect on the housing market. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage broke 7% for the first time since April 2002, more than twice as high as a year ago, according to Freddie Mac. The Fed is poised to announce another significant hike at its next...

According to a recent McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey, 36% of employed Americans identify as self-employed, representing a significant increase from 27% in 2016. This number includes “side hustles,” but 72% of independent workers say they have only one job. Although this form of employment comes with benefits, such as greater flexibility and the ability to set rates and work schedules, it can...

The latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report indicates that inflation increased by 0.4% in the past month and 8.2% in the past year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. It marks a slight annual deceleration from 8.5% in July and 9.1% in June. Increases in the shelter, food, and medical care indexes were the largest of many contributors, increasing respectively by 0.7%, 0.8%, and 1.0%...

The tight job market has been a recurring theme since the pandemic. As employers struggled to find and retain employees, wages have increased accordingly. Workers did not hesitate to quit when their position was less than satisfactory, confident that they could find another position, often accompanied by a raise. This situation may soon come to an end. For the first time since June 2021, the number of...