Introducing

Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

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| Apr 14 2023

  U.S. Business Inventories Rose in February, while Sales Were Unchanged

  • Inventories rose in February, offsetting the January monthly decline.
  • Business sales were unchanged in February but revised down in January.
  • Inventory-to-sales ratio was unchanged.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Apr 12 2023

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose in Early April

  • Mortgage applications rose in the week ending April 7.
  • Applications for purchase a loan rose strongly, while applications to refinancing a loan were little changed.
  • The effective rates on fixed-rate loans and on ARMs all eased in the latest week.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Apr 05 2023

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined in Late March

  • Mortgage applications declined in the week ending March 31.
  • Both applications for purchase and refinancing a loan fell.
  • The effective rate on a 30-year fixed-rate loan eased, while other rates rose in the latest week.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Mar 31 2023

  U.S. Personal Income Rose in February

  • Real spending eased in February but was revised up in January.
  • Personal income beat expectations.
  • Price index growth slows.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Mar 01 2023

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Continue to Decline as Interest Rates Rise

  • Mortgage applications dropped 5.7% in the latest week and 19% over the last four weeks.
  • The purchase index is at a 28-year low for a second consecutive week.
  • The effective interest rates on 30-year and 15-year fixed loans and on 5-year ARMs continue to rise.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Feb 15 2023

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Decline in the Latest Week

  • Overall mortgage applications retrenched in the week of February 10.
  • Applications for loans to both purchase and refinance declined in the latest week.
  • The average effective rates on fixed loans rose in the latest week.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Feb 01 2023

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined in the Latest Week

  • Overall mortgage applications retrenched in the week of January 27.
  • Applications for loans to both purchase and refinance declined in the latest week.
  • The average effective rates on 30-year fixed loans declined for the third consecutive week.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 31 2023

  U.S. ECI Growth Moderated in Q4 2022

  • Employment costs slowed by more than anticipated, to 1.0% q/q in Q4.
  • Both wage & salaries and benefits slowed in Q4.
  • Rise in labor costs in the private sector slowed as well.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 25 2023

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose in the Latest Week

  • Overall mortgage applications increased in the week of January 20.
  • Applications for loans to both purchase and refinance increased in the latest week but remain well below their year-ago pace.
  • The average effective rates on 30-year fixed loans declined for the second consecutive week.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 18 2023

  U.S. Mortgage Applications Rebounded in the Latest Week

  • Total mortgage applications jumped 27.9% in the week of January 13.
  • Applications for loans to both purchase and refinance increased by double-digit percentages.
  • The average effective rates on loans reached their lowest levels since September 2022.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• 

  USA| Jan 12 2023

  U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Were Little Changed in Latest Week

  • Claims decreased by 1,000 in the week ended January 7.
  • Continued weeks claimed dropped 63,000 in the week ended December 31.
  • Insured unemployment rate edged down to 1.1% in the week ended December 31.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief
• USA| Jan 05 2023

  U.S. Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance Dropped in Latest Week

  • Claims decreased by 19,000 in the holiday week ended December 31.

  • Continued weeks claimed dropped 24,000.

  • Insured unemployment rate held steady.

  by:Kathleen Stephansen, CBE

  |in:Economy in Brief