The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a government-sponsored enterprise, guiding the US secondary mortgage market.
Home prices in the UK have risen by 1.2% in May, with annual prices showing a North-South split. North and North East lead annual gains, while London and the Southeast see declines. Buyer activity remains strong with record buyer choice and high listings, though price realism remains crucial for quick sales.
President Donald Trump has named Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director and chair of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, as acting director of national intelligence. Pulte will keep his housing posts, has no known intelligence experience and can serve up to 210 days without Senate confirmation, prompting bipartisan concern about politicising the intelligence community.
Mortgage rates have edged up again, with the 30-year fixed rate near 6.60% as lending activity strengthens after a lull. Refinancing remains soft while purchase applications show a modest uptick, reflecting ongoing sensitivity to inflation and oil-market tensions.
Congress has passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act with overwhelming bipartisan majorities to speed construction, restrict corporate buyers and ease federal rules. President Donald Trump has cancelled a planned signing and said he will not sign until Congress passes voter ID and other measures in his proposed SAVE America Act, leaving the legislation’s enactment uncertain.
Major device makers have raised prices and warned consumers after memory and storage costs have surged because AI data‑centre buildouts are buying up DRAM and flash. Apple has increased Mac and iPad prices; Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo have signalled or implemented console and hardware hikes. Analysts say shortages will persist into 2027.
The Fed’s inflation gauge has reached a three-year high in May as gas prices peaked, signaling rising costs amid a shifting economy. Consumer prices are up 4.1% year over year, with core inflation also ticking higher. Spending showed resilience while service prices and AI-driven component costs push broader prices upward.
Mortgage rates have edged higher in recent weeks as oil prices ease and inflation concerns linger. Lenders report steadier but uncertain demand for both home purchases and refinancing, with expectations for rate movements remaining volatile amid geopolitical tensions.
The interim Director of National Intelligence has begun a new round of firings within the U.S. intelligence community, as President Trump presses for rapid staff changes. The White House and DNI have not commented. The move follows reports that the administration aims to remove officials deemed loyal to opponents and to expand access to sensitive data.
Prices have fallen across major Israeli cities amid war-related uncertainty. April data show a 19% drop in apartment transactions and a sharp decline in investor purchases, while foreign buyers led Jerusalem's 2025 acquisitions.
The United States has launched durable 10%–12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 economies, arguing they fail to enforce bans on goods produced with forced labor. The move takes effect as temporary levies expire, with exemptions for certain products and countries meeting compliance. Analysts warn prices could rise for consumers amid ongoing debates over trade policy.
State governments are expanding loan offerings as federal student-loan limits tighten. Rates vary by state and program, with debate over whether these are close substitutes for federal loans. Advocates warn borrowers should weigh trade-offs and risks before assuming equivalence.
AP News reports a sluggish 1.5% second-quarter growth with consumer spending rising, inflation cooling but still above target, and higher mortgage rates, amid Iran-related energy volatility. The economy shows resilience, but pressures on households and the Fed remain.
Existing-home sales have fallen by 1.7% to a 4.06 million annual pace, while prices reach record highs for July. The 30-year fixed rate sits at about 6.69%, and mortgage-rate trends are weighing on buyers as supply remains tight.
The Labor Department has released July employment data showing a rebound in job gains after 2025’s lull, with nearly 98,000 new jobs added and unemployment near 4.2%, while a shrinking labor force and ongoing retirements complicate the outlook.
A collection of recent finance and housing reports shows Americans face high debt, tepid wage growth, and rising home prices. While some see opportunities in new budgeting trends, many households struggle to save, buy a home, and stay ahead of rising costs.