#Economic Data

[gwydionmisha]

Atlanta Fed shock sounds 'Trumpcession' warning: McGeever

Trump is deliberately tanking the economy and then trying to cover it up with more firings and cooking the books. If no federal economic data is reliable then no one can trust it for things like investments, business decisions, government planning for economic downturn, etc.. This is yet another essential step in the Republican plan to ruin the economy for the benefit of Vladimir Putin and a hand full of Billionaires so rich they benefit if there is stagflation, or even worse deflation.

There is no non-sinister reason to do any of this.

Trump administration disbands two expert panels on economic data

Trump Advisers Want to Strip Public Spending From the GDP Tally. Why It Makes No Sense.

[jbfly46]

The collapse of the U.S. economy is imminent. The published GDP data that isn't outright falsified, is manipulated to the extent that the data literally isn't true, and the data that isn't falsified or manipulated, is either outdated, or based on fraudulent activity. The only possible way to save the economy before it collapses, because of how long our politicians have waited to address this issue they keep issuing bandaid fixes for, is to somehow gather accurate data on black market economic activity, and then include that in the GDP data, and that still will only be a bandaid fix that will offer at least some significant leeway, hopefully enough for our leaders to gain the spines, balls, and morals necessary to do what actually needs to be done to permanently fix the issue with our economy.

[the-psudo]

Also, real wages have gone up under Biden. You can only tell since the effects of COVID on real wages wore off (about halfway through 2022), and US workers deserve MUCH larger wage increases than these. But it's stupid to claim that wages won't go up under Biden while they already have gone up under Biden. "Real wages" is how economists say that they are adjusted for inflation already.

Source: https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/LES1252881600Q

[mortgages-by-mixon-nmls-2450250]

How Federal Reserve Rate Cuts Affect Mortgage Interest Rates

The Federal Reserve, often referred to as the Fed, plays a crucial role in shaping the economic environment of the United States, particularly through its monetary policy. One of the Fed's primary tools to influence the economy is adjusting the federal funds rate, the interest rate at which banks lend to each other overnight. When the Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, it can have a significant impact on various aspects of the economy, including mortgage interest rates. While the relationship between the two is not always direct, understanding how rate cuts generally influence mortgage rates is important for homebuyers, homeowners looking to refinance, and real estate investors.

The Federal Reserve’s Rate Cuts and Their Immediate Impact

When the Fed cuts interest rates, it lowers the cost of borrowing money for banks and financial institutions. This is done to stimulate the economy by encouraging spending and investment. For example, when borrowing becomes cheaper, consumers are more likely to take out loans for homes, cars, and businesses. The ultimate goal is to lower the unemployment rate, boost spending, and foster overall economic growth.

However, the direct link between the Federal Reserve’s actions and mortgage rates is somewhat indirect. The federal funds rate primarily affects short-term borrowing rates, such as credit card interest rates and rates on short-term loans, rather than long-term fixed mortgage rates. Mortgage rates are typically more influenced by long-term bond yields, particularly the 10-year Treasury note, which reflects investor expectations about future economic conditions, inflation, and the Fed’s monetary policy stance.

The Role of Treasury Yields in Mortgage Rates

Mortgage interest rates are more closely tied to the bond market, specifically the yields on government bonds. While the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts directly influence short-term borrowing, they can indirectly influence long-term rates as well. When the Fed cuts rates, it can make bonds that offer higher returns than current rates more attractive to investors. This increase in demand for bonds typically leads to a drop in bond yields.

As bond yields decrease, mortgage lenders can offer lower interest rates on mortgages. This is because lenders often use the yield on Treasury bonds as a benchmark for setting their rates. So, when yields drop, lenders pass on the savings to consumers in the form of lower mortgage rates. The reverse is also true—when the Fed raises rates, Treasury yields often rise, which can cause mortgage rates to increase as well.

The Influence of Inflation Expectations

One of the primary reasons the Fed cuts interest rates is to combat economic slowdowns or recessions. By lowering borrowing costs, the Fed aims to stimulate spending and investment, which in turn boosts economic activity. However, investors and lenders are also concerned with inflation. If investors believe that rate cuts will lead to higher inflation down the road, they may demand higher returns on long-term investments to compensate for the potential loss in purchasing power. In this case, mortgage rates might not fall as much or could even rise despite Fed rate cuts, especially if inflation expectations increase.

Conversely, if the rate cuts are seen as a response to a slowdown in inflation or a stagnant economy, mortgage rates are more likely to decrease. This is because the expectation is that low rates will keep inflation under control while encouraging economic activity, leading to a favorable environment for lower borrowing costs in the housing market.

Refinancing and Homebuying Benefits

For consumers, the most obvious effect of a Fed rate cut is the potential for lower mortgage rates, which can benefit both homebuyers and homeowners looking to refinance. Lower mortgage rates reduce monthly payments on new loans, making homeownership more affordable. For existing homeowners, refinancing can result in significant savings by locking in a lower interest rate, reducing the overall cost of a loan over time.

However, it is important to note that mortgage rates do not always follow the Fed's actions in perfect synchronicity. There may be other market forces at play that influence rates, including global economic conditions, investor sentiment, and domestic inflation trends. For instance, during times of economic uncertainty or market volatility, mortgage rates may remain higher even in the face of Fed rate cuts, as investors may seek safety in long-term bonds, driving up yields.

Conclusion

While the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts can influence mortgage rates, the relationship is complex and depends on various factors, including investor behavior and inflation expectations. Mortgage rates typically decline when the Fed lowers rates, but the full extent of the impact will depend on broader economic conditions. For homebuyers and homeowners, the key takeaway is that while Fed rate cuts often signal favorable conditions for securing lower mortgage rates, timing, market conditions, and individual financial circumstances should always be considered when making a decision.

[cryptonewscentral]

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[allaboutforexworld]

Dow Jones Index in a Nutshell

The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA), commonly referred to as the Dow Jones Index, is one of the most well-known and widely followed stock market indices in the world. This article delves into the history, significance, components, and impact of the Index on the financial markets. History of the Dow Jones Index The Dow Jones Index was created by Charles Dow, co-founder of Dow Jones & Company,…

[tilos-tagebuch]

Netflix wächst und steigert Gewinne, nennt zukünftig aber keine Abozahlen mehr

Netflix konnte im ersten Quartal dieses Jahres alle wichtigen Kennzahlen steigern: Umsatz, Gewinne und Abonnenten. Letztere werden zukünftig allerdings weniger wichtig.

Ab 2025 wird Netflix Abozahlen nicht mehr regelmäßig berichten, sondern nur noch bei Erreichung besonderer Meilensteine.

[charts-for-the-apocalypse]

Are people actually spending more on frivolous things? NOPE!

As it turns out, when people have less money, they spend less money on things that are non-essentials. I know that this is a really radical concept for media economists to grasp. Happy to squash that rumor that's been going around that everyone's Starbucks trips, or avocado toast is bankrupting them. They aren't even buying the Starbucks or the avocado toast. But I bet the limey bougie mouthpieces were!

[sgrji]

A Comprehensive Guide to Trading: Strategies, Risks, and Success

Trading is a financial practice that has been around for centuries, evolving from the bustling markets of the past to the digital world of today. It’s a means of buying and selling financial assets with the goal of making a profit. This comprehensive guide will delve into the world of trading, covering various aspects including strategies, risks, and the path to success. I. Understanding…

[hope-for-the-planet]

This is an older article (from 2021), but I'm posting it here because I realize a lot of people don't know this is happening. There seems to be a narrative in certain corners of the internet that we haven't made any measurable progress on climate change at all when the opposite is true--while we need to do more as quickly as we can, we have already significantly moved the needle on the amount of warming in our collective future.

It wasn't all that long ago that it was debated whether it was even possible to meaningfully decouple emissions from economic growth--now it is beginning to happen for several countries and more are headed in that direction.

To compensate for instances where wealthy nations might be "exporting" their emissions to other countries, this data attributes emissions from imported goods to the importing country (and subtracts them from the exporting country).

Here are some graphs from a more recent analysis done in 2024 by the International Energy Agency, where you can see that this is also beginning to happen even in countries seeing rapid development like China and India.

While decoupling at this rate is not sufficient to get where we need to be to properly address climate change (and there is an argument to be made that slowed growth or degrowth may be necessary to fully curb unsustainable emissions and resource consumption especially in wealthier countries) the fact that it's happening at all shows remarkable progress beyond what many expected to be possible not so long ago.

[afloweroutofstone]

Largest US Trade Partners in 2024

Total trade (exports + imports) between the USA and each of its trading partners for the year 2024, measured in billions of US dollars. Data from the Census Bureau.

During his second term in office so far, Donald Trump has created new tariffs against our top three partners (Mexico, Canada, and China, which make up a total of 41.0% of all US trade) and has threatened new tariffs against trade partners which make up an additional 19.0% of all US trade (the EU and Colombia).

[Updated March 4, 2025]

[tanadrin]

I think this is pretty spot on; whenever I see discussion of the economy and economic perceptions, there's always people in the replies going "yeah, but eggs are $8 a dozen" or "why is every middle class family I know foodbanking." And then OP, or someone else, will post data showing egg prices are stable, or that wages have actually been rising faster than inflation, and the person who posted that may even admit that, ok, things are fine for them personally, but not for other people.

And it's always been true that politics is more about attitudes and aesthetics than it is about policy or facts on the ground; but it's rare that attitudes are so divorced from people's actual material circumstances. And while I think there are lots of things contributing to this disconnect, as matter of campaigning, I don't really know how you overcome it.

[political-us]

[thoughtportal]

What's happening to the federal treasury system

[thefreethoughtprojectcom]

Same goals, same infrastructure, so what's the difference? Not much.

🔥 Fuel Our Work: https://bit.ly/TFTPSubs 🎙 TFTP Podcast: https://bit.ly/TFTPPodcast

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[cryptonewscentral]

🚀📈 Big week ahead for crypto! With the Federal Reserve’s meeting, key economic reports, and major earnings releases, the market is primed for action. Discover what could shake up the crypto world and how to navigate the upcoming trends. Dive into our latest article for all the details! 🔍💹