Freddie Mac has released its Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) for the week ending March 3, 2022. The PMMS reports that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.76% with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.89%. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 3.01% with an average 0.8 point, down from last week when it averaged 3.14%.
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U.S. Job Cuts Declined While Hiring Increased in February 2022
According to the latest Job Cut Report from Challenger, Gray & Christmas (CG&C), Inc, a global outplacement and business and executive coaching firm, U.S.-based employers announced 15,245 cuts in February 2022. This is a 20% drop from January’s total announced cuts of 19,064. In February, U.S. based employers announced plans to hire 215,127 workers, the highest February total on record.
Weekly Jobless Claims Decline in the Week Ending February 26, 2022
The U.S. Department of Labor is reporting that an additional 215,000 Americans made their initial filing for unemployment benefits during the week ending on Saturday, February 26, 2022. This is a decrease of 18,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The 4-week moving average was 230,500.
Mortgage Applications Continued to Decline in the Week Ending February 25, 2022
According to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Application Survey (WMAS), for the week ending February 25, 2022, the Market Composite Index (a measure of mortgage loan application volume) decreased -0.7% on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier.
Canadian Real GDP Increased Quarterly in Q4, Rounding Out a Year-Over-Year Gain in 2021
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported on Tuesday (3-1-22) that real gross domestic product (GDP) in Canada grew 1.6% in Q4 2021, following a 1.3% rise in Q3 2021. Real GDP posted a strong 4.6% growth in all of 2021, after the COVID-19 pandemic-induced decline (-5.2%) in 2020. Final domestic demand rose 0.7% in Q4 2021.
ADP Reports Private Sector Employment Increased in February
According to the February ADP® National Employment Report™, released today (3-2-22), nonfarm private sector employment increased by 475,000 jobs from January to February. ADP’s chief economist said, “Hiring remains robust but capped by reduced labor supply post-pandemic. Last month, large companies showed they are well-poised to compete with higher wages and benefit offerings.”
Residential Construction Loan Volume Reaches Post-Great Recession High Levels in Q4 2021
According to data provided by the FDIC, with further analysis provided by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), residential construction loan volume during Q4 2021 reached a post-Great Recession high, as home building activity posted gains for the entire year. According to the report, the volume of 1–4-unit residential construction loans made by FDIC-insured institutions increased 1% during Q4 of 2021.
U.S. Construction Spending Up Month-Over-Month and Year-Over-Year in January 2022
On Tuesday (3-1-22), the U.S. Census Bureau reported that total construction spending during January 2022 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR) of $1,677.2 billion, 1.3% above the revised December estimate of $1,655.8 billion. The January figure is 8.2% above the January 2021 estimate of $1,549.8 billion.
Canadian Real GDP Unchanged in December
Statistics Canada (StatsCan) reported today (3-1-22) that the real gross domestic product (GDP) was virtually unchanged in December, following six consecutive months of growth. Growth in services-producing industries (+0.1%) was offset by a decline in goods-producing industries (-0.1%).
Newly Listed Homes For Sale Post Smallest Decline Since Mid-November
According to the latest report from Redfin, the Seattle-based, technology-powered real estate firm, during the four weeks ending February 20, 2022, the number of newly listed homes for sale was down “just” -2% year-over-year. That is the smallest decline since mid-November.