The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, a government-sponsored enterprise, guiding the US secondary mortgage market.
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh has signalled that the Fed will raise interest rates if inflation does not return toward 2%. Speaking at Jackson Hole, he has said recent inflation readings "do not tell me that underlying trends have meaningfully improved" and that short-term rates remain the Fed's primary tool. Markets have priced in a higher chance of a September hike and Treasury yields have risen.
Global government bond yields have risen to multi-year highs after renewed US–Iran fighting pushed oil toward $90–$95 a barrel and reignited inflation fears. The US 10-year Treasury has climbed to about 4.8%, UK gilt yields and long Japanese maturities have hit decades-highs, and markets are pricing a greater chance of central-bank rate hikes this month.
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 US has imposed new 10%–12.5% tariffs on imports from 60 trading partners, saying they have not effectively enforced bans on goods produced with forced labour. The levies replace expiring temporary duties and include product exemptions, while trading partners from Brazil to Australia have criticised the move and markets have reacted with caution.
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.
The latest U.S. inflation readings show persistence above the Fed’s 2% target while growth softens in Q2. Consumer spending remains resilient, but higher borrowing costs and energy prices complicate the outlook as policymakers weigh future moves.
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.
July saw only modest 0.1% month-on-month growth in UK house prices, with annual growth slowing to 1.8%. Affordability remains a challenge as mortgage rates rise amid geopolitical tensions. Northern Ireland leads price gains while the south and London lag. The Bank of England cautions inflation pressures could rise if the Iran conflict persists.
The labor market has a mix of resilience and weakness. Job openings remain elevated in some sectors while hiring slows overall, with unemployment near 4.1% to 4.2% and labor-force participation at historic lows for this cycle. New data suggest a stubborn, low-hire economy as rates stay high and uncertainty persists.
A roundup of recent reports shows how debt, housing costs, and consumer spend patterns shape the US financial landscape. Redfin and Zillow data indicate ongoing affordability stress in housing, while consumer debt and money-management trends are highlighted by CNBC and independent outlets. The mix suggests a cautious, debt-aware economy.
The latest data show inflation cooling in July while wholesale prices slow and gas costs retreat, signaling a possible continuation of easing consumer prices. Yet analysts warn wage growth and volatile energy prices could rekindle pressure in coming months.
The US has passed $40 trillion in total public debt, the Treasury has reported, driven by large pandemic-era and recent spending and tax changes. Interest payments have risen sharply and are now a larger budget item than many programmes. Treasury officials argue growth can be managed by stronger economic growth and fiscal consolidation.
Forecasters now expect 30-year fixed mortgage rates to average about 6.7%–7% into 2027, keeping borrowing costs elevated. Inflation and tariffs are cited as drivers, with home prices hovering near record levels and buyers facing limited purchasing power.