- 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.
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| Jan 08 2025U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined in the First Week of January
- 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.
USA| Dec 11 2024U.S. Mortgage Applications Rise in the December 6 Week
- Applications to purchase a house drop, while applications to refinance surge.
- Slight decrease in rates on 30-year fixed-rate loans.
- Average loan size decreases modestly.
USA| Dec 05 2024U.S. Jobless Claims Rose by 9,000 in November 30 Week
- Initial claims up slightly in last two weeks.
- Continued claims down moderately in mid-November.
- Insured unemployment rate back to 1.2%.
- Monthly 0.3% gain in core prices same as in September.
- Improvement in real spending is concentrated in goods.
- Disposable income firms as wages maintain strength.
USA| Nov 21 2024U.S. Unemployment Insurance Claims Fell 6,000 in Latest Week
- Jobless claims on very slight downward trend.
- Continuing claims are rising gradually.
- The insured unemployment rate inched up to 1.3%, the first rise since March 2023.
USA| Nov 15 2024U.S. Import and Export Prices Rose in October
- Import prices rose in most categories last month and are up y/y.
- Export price increases were broad-based, but still declining y/y.
USA| Nov 06 2024U.S. Mortgage Loan Applications Dropped in the November 1 Week
- Loan applications to purchase and to refinance a house fell in the latest week.
- The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage continued to rise in the latest week.
- Average loan size rose slightly.
USA| Oct 30 2024U.S. Mortgage Loan Applications Eased in the October 25 Week
- Loan applications to purchase rose and those to refinance a house fell in the latest week.
- The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose sharply in the latest week.
- Average loan size rose slightly.
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