CFPB: Report Released on 2018 Administration of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (Bureau) released the annual report to Congress on the administration of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The report highlights the continued efforts by the Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to stop unlawful debt collection practices, including vigorous law enforcement, education and public outreach, and policy initiatives….
FDIC: Supervisory Insights Winter Edition Focuses on LIBOR
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today issued the Winter 2018 issue of Supervisory Insights, which includes an article examining the future of, and alternatives to, the London Inter-bank Offered Rate (LIBOR). LIBOR is a popular reference rate for commercial loans, residential mortgages, derivatives and swaps, and other credit instruments. While LIBOR often is viewed as…
HUD and Census Bureau: New Residential Sales Report for January 2019
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential sales statistics for January 2019: New Home Sales Sales of new single-family houses in January 2019 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 607,000. This is 6.9 percent (±16.3 percent)* below the revised December…
HUD and Census Bureau: Residential Construction Activity Report for January 2019
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for January 2019. Building Permits Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in January were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,345,000. This is 1.4 percent (±0.8 percent) above the revised…
CFPB: Report Released on First-Time Homebuying Servicemembers
Today the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report focusing on mortgages made to first-time homebuyers who are serving in the armed forces or are veterans. The Bureau’s report is the first time researchers have been able to provide a description and analysis of servicemembers’ mortgage choices and mortgage performance, both during and after…
FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Decreased in January 2019
Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages decreased from December to January, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.60 percent for loans closed in late January, down 23 basis points from 4.83 percent in December. The average interest…
FHFA: U.S. House Prices Rise 1.1 Percent in Fourth Quarter 2018
U.S. house prices rose 1.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI). House prices rose 5.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the fourth quarter of 2018. FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for December was up 0.3 percent from November. The…
Census Bureau: New Data and Tools Apps to Be Unveiled at Technology Demo Day on March 1st
The U.S. Census Bureau will host technology industry and university teams to showcase 20+ new innovative tech tools at an interagency demonstration day created through a federal initiative called The Opportunity Project (TOP). These new tools address challenges such as using artificial intelligence to connect veterans with apprenticeships, promoting access to and interest in STEM…
FHFA: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Refinance Volume Decreases in Fourth Quarter 2018
Nearly 3.5 Million HARP Loans at Program Expiration The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed 245,620 refinances in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared with 253,135 in the third quarter. FHFA’s fourth quarter Refinance Report also shows that 1,390 loans were refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program…
Federal Reserve: FEDS Notes | Are Disappearing Employer Pensions Contributing to Rising Wealth Inequality?
Are Disappearing Employer Pensions Contributing to Rising Wealth Inequality? John Sabelhaus and Alice Henriques Volz* The share of U.S. workers covered by a traditional employer-sponsored pension plan has declined dramatically over the past few decades. Fewer jobs today have any form of employer-sponsored retirement plan coverage, and those jobs that do have coverage are much…