- Initial claims hold in a tight range.
- Total beneficiaries rose slightly in the February 8 week.
- Insured unemployment rate remains at 1.2%.
Introducing
Kathleen Stephansen, CBE
in:Our Authors
Kathleen Stephansen is a Senior Economist for Haver Analytics and an Independent Trustee for the EQAT/VIP/1290 Trust Funds, encompassing the US mutual funds sponsored by the Equitable Life Insurance Company. She is a former Chief Economist of Huawei Technologies USA, Senior Economic Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group, Chief Economist of the American International Group (AIG) and AIG Asset Management’s Senior Strategist and Global Head of Sovereign Research. Prior to joining AIG in 2010, Kathleen held various positions as Chief Economist or Head of Global Research at Aladdin Capital Holdings, Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette Securities Corporation.
Kathleen serves on the boards of the Global Interdependence Center (GIC), as Vice-Chair of the GIC College of Central Bankers, is the Treasurer for Economists for Peace and Security (EPS) and is a former board member of the National Association of Business Economics (NABE). She is a member of Chatham House and the Economic Club of New York. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from the Universite Catholique de Louvain and graduate degrees in economics from the University of New Hampshire (MA) and the London School of Economics (PhD abd).
Publications by Kathleen Stephansen, CBE
USA| Feb 12 2025U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose in the February 7 Week
- Purchase loan applications fell while refinancing loan applications jumped in the latest week.
- Effective interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans edged down.
- Average loan size rose to the highest since the October 4 week.
USA| Feb 05 2025U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose in the January 31 Week
- Purchase loan applications fell while refinancing loan applications jumped in the latest week.
- Effective interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans edged down.
- Average loan size rose to the highest since the November 1 week.
USA| Jan 29 2025U.S. Mortgage Applications Retrenched in the January 24 Week
- Both purchase and refinancing loan applications fell in the latest week.
- Effective interest rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans held steady at 7.20%.
- Average loan size rose to the highest since the November 1 week.
USA| Jan 15 2025U.S. Mortgage Applications Surged in the January 10 Week
- Applications to purchase and to refinance loans jumped.
- Rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans rose moderately.
- Average loan size rose modestly in latest week.
USA| Jan 14 2025U.S. PPI and Core PPI Gains Ease in December
- Overall index rise softer than expected.
- Advance in core goods prices is steady.
- Advance in services price is steady.
USA| Jan 08 2025U.S. ADP Payroll Gain Moderates in December
- Employment increase led by hiring in services.
- Wage gain for “job changers” stabilizes.
- Construction employment improves, while factory jobs decline.
USA| Jan 08 2025U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined in the First Week of January
- Applications to purchase dropped, while applications to refinance rose.
- Rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans were unchanged.
- Average loan size declined in latest week.
- Applications to purchase and to refinance plummeted.
- Rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans rose by 23bps in the last 2 weeks.
- Average loan size declined in the last 2 weeks.
USA| Dec 26 2024U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Edged Down in Most Recent Week
- Initial claims were lower than expected in the week ended December 21.
- Continuing claims rose to the highest level since November 2021.
- The insured unemployment rate rose to 1.3%.
USA| Dec 19 2024U.S. Initial Unemployment Claims Declined in Most Recent Week
- Initial claims were lower than expected in the week ended December 14.
- Continuing claims remained steady.
- The insured unemployment rate remained unchanged at 1.2%.
USA| Dec 18 2024U.S. Mortgage Applications Eased in the December 13 Week
- Applications to purchase a house rose, while applications to refinance declined.
- Slight increase in rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans.
- Average loan size rises modestly.
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