The Chicago Fed National Activity Index improved to 0.12 in August from minus 0.42 in July Economic growth rebounded a little last month in the U.S., according to a monthly index set out Monday, though the broader trend remains weak amid high borrowing costs and political uncertainty.The Chicago Fed National Activity Index improved to 0.12 in August from minus 0.42 in July, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago said. A reading above zero is associa
Security is often a top concern for buyers. Advise your customers on the top options for cameras and doorbells.Home security technology has made incredible advancements over the last decade, bringing enhanced safety, convenience and peace of mind to homeowners. At the heart of these innovations are cameras and smart doorbells that provide real-time surveillance, motion detection, package tracking and seamless integration with other smart hom
Lighter colors can certainly add a clean, fresh and bright look to interiors, but in a few spots in the home, homeowners are wanting to add a little more drama. They’re painting rooms black, a charcoal gray, chocolate brown or a deep navy or green. The richness of the darker colors can make the space stand out, particularly when the surrounding home interiors are wrapped in otherwise light, neutral colors.Check out some of these interiors showi
U.S. Treasury yields rose after the Fed cut short-term ratesThe Federal Reserve is finally cutting interest rates. One key gauge of borrowing costs has been going up anyway.Yields on longer-term U.S. Treasurys have ticked higher since the Fed approved a 0.5 percentage point rate-cut last week. The yield on the benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note, which helps set interest rates on everything from mortgages to corporate bonds, settl
One of the most consequential Federal Reserve meetings in recent history has put investors’ focus squarely on one question: whether the central bank has kicked off its rate cutting cycle in time to keep the economy from slowing too rapidly.The Fed delivered a 50 basis point rate cut on Wednesday - lowering borrowing costs for the first time in more than four years - and assured investors the jumbo-sized reduction was a measure to safe
U.S. home builder confidence edged up in September as mortgage rates fell, breaking four months of consecutive declines, but remained at relatively low levels as rising costs continued to impede construction.The NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index of builder confidence rose to 41 this month from 39 in August, the National Association of Home Builders said on Tuesday. A Reuters poll showed economists expected the outlook to increase to 40 this m
Apple is making it easier for users to control their smart home devices on Apple TV, iPads and iPhones with its latest software update.Apple continues its smart home evolution by introducing significant updates in its latest operating system releases: tvOS 18, iOS 18, and iPadOS 18. These upgrades bring new functionalities designed to enhance user experience, optimize inter-device integration, and advance home automation.Taken in context with r
Mortgage rates have dropped to their lowest levels since 2023 in 22 of the 50 largest US metros — even as rent prices continue to rise, according to a new analysis from Zillow released on Monday Monthly mortgage payments are now cheaper than rent in 22 of the 50 largest U.S. metros — a shot of cold comfort for renters aiming to jump into the market this fall, according to an analysis from Zillow released Monday.While mortgage rates have fal
If you need further proof that the nation’s formerly sizzling job market has gone cold, look to what had been perhaps the hottest part of the post-pandemic hiring frenzy: pay for newly hired workers.After adjusting for inflation, average wages for new hires fell 1.5% over the 12 months ending in July – from $23.85 an hour to $23.51– the largest such decline in a decade, according to an analysis of Labor Department figures by the W.E. Upj
Borrowing costs fell ahead of the Federal Reserve’s anticipated rate cut next week. But economists say home buyers may not want to wait to see if rates go lower.The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.2% this week, down significantly compared to a year ago when they surged above 7%. But some prospective home buyers are holding out for even lower rates in anticipation of the Federal Reserve’s meeting next week, where it’s expected to cut s
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