- Latest week’s initial claims lower than forecast.
- December 23 week’s continuing claims down 31,000 from prior week.
- Insured unemployment rate at 1.2%, down slightly from prior week’s 1.3%.
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 04 2024U.S. Jobless Claims Down 18,000 in December 30 Week
USA| Jan 03 2024U.S. Mortgage Applications Dropped in the Last Week of 2023
- Total mortgage applications dropped 9.4% in the week of December 29 from 2 weeks earlier.
- Applications for loans to purchase and to refinance also dropped in the last week of 2023.
- The average effective rates on loans ended the year lower than 2 weeks prior.
USA| Dec 20 2023U.S Mortgage Applications Took a Breather in The Latest Week
- Mortgage applications declined by 1.5% in the December 15 week.
- Mortgage applications for both loans to purchase and to refinance posted small weekly declines.
- Effective mortgage interest rates dropped in the latest week, with the 30-year fixed rate down 23bps, the eighth consecutive weekly decline.
USA| Dec 13 2023U.S Mortgage Applications Jumped in The Latest Week
- Mortgage applications jumped 7.4% in the December 8 week.
- Mortgage applications for loan refinancing soared 19.4%.
- Effective mortgage interest rates dropped in the latest week, with the 30-year fixed rate down 11bps, the seventh consecutive weekly decline.
- Applications for loans refinancing provided support for overall mortgage applications in the December 1 week.
- Effective interest rates fell in the latest week, with the 30-year fixed rate dropping 20bps.
- The average size of mortgage loans declined in the latest week.
USA| Nov 30 2023U.S. Jobless Claims Inched Up in November 25 Week
- Initial claims in the latest week are up 7,000.
- Continuing claims reached the highest level since November 2021.
- Insured unemployment rate up slightly to 1.3%.
- Applications for loans to purchase provided support for overall mortgage applications in the November 24 week.
- Effective interest rates fell in the latest week except for rates on the 30-year Jumbo loans.
- The average size of mortgage loans rose.
USA| Nov 02 2023U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Slightly Up in October 28 Week
- Latest week up 5,000 from week before.
- Continuing claims up 35,000 to 1.818 million.
- Insured unemployment rate still at 1.2%; high during 2023 just 1.3%.
- Total applications declined again in the latest week.
- Mortgage interest rates were relatively stable.
- Applications for purchase loans & refinancing declined.
USA| Oct 04 2023U.S. Mortgage Applications Dropped in the Last Week of September
- Total applications plummeted 6.0%.
- Purchase applications fell 5.7%
- Effective rate on loans to purchase 7.76%, high since late 2000.
USA| Sep 26 2023U.S. New Home Sales & Prices Drop in August
- Sales decline in August.
- Regional sales drop, except for the 6.7% rise in the Northeast.
- Median sales price drop last month.
USA| Sep 06 2023U.S. Mortgage Applications Dropped in Latest Week
- Loans to purchase and to refinance dropped in the latest week.
- Rates fell modestly.
- Average loan size declined.
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