Tag Archives: Unemployment Rate

The unemployment rate nationwide held at 3.7% in December, with the number of unemployed persons remaining at 6.3 million as residential building employment surpassed pre-pandemic levels.

Prospective spring home buyers have responded to a second straight week of falling rates according to Freddie Mac, as they pounce on the nation’s limited housing supply, and have driven app volume upward.

“Buyers responded to better affordability from falling mortgage rates in December and January,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun.

While unemployment and mortgage rates have both dropped recently, unsustainably high consumer spending and inflationary pressures are expected to push the economy into a recession during Q2 of 2023.

The 2023 mortgage market began on a positive note, as Freddie Mac reported a week-over-week slide in mortgage rates leading to an uptick in refinance apps.

The MBA reports that, despite rates still in the 6% range, refinance apps increased 5% over the previous week—but are still 86% lower year-over-year.

As mortgage rates rose for the 10th straight week, hitting a 21-year high, housing demand continues to tail off, with the MBA reporting overall app volume falling nearly 2% week-over-week.

Credit availability fell to its lowest level since March 2013 in September, as reports show credit tightening for the seventh consecutive month.

After weeks of hovering just above the 3% mark, mortgage rates changed course for the second straight week, reaching highs last seen prior to the pandemic.

One economist noted that housing is “ helping the economy in recovering” from the recession with residential construction rebounding.