Monday, April 9, 2012

This Week’s Forecast

DID YOU KNOW?... The typical home purchased in 2011 was built in 1993, with three bedrooms and two bathrooms in 1900 square feet of space, as reported in the latest NAR survey.

>> This Week’s Forecast

BUDGET, FED VIEWS, INFLATION... Wednesday's March Federal Budgetshould show the government running a big deficit, no surprise there. This will be followed by the Federal Reserve's Beige Book of economic observations from Fed districts around the country. Could be some good stuff.

But the big reports will be PPI wholesale inflationon Thursday and CPI consumer inflationcome Friday. The monthly numbers are expected to reflect annual inflation rates slightly above the Fed's 2% target. This is not good, as inflation cuts consumer buying power, sends mortgage bond prices lower -- and mortgage rates up!

>> The Week’s Economic Indicator Calendar

Weaker than expected economic data tends to send bond prices up and interest rates down, while positive data points to lower bond prices and rising loan rates.

Economic Calendar for the Week of Apr 9 – Apr 13

DateTime (ET)ReleaseForConsensusPriorImpact
W
Apr 11
10:30Crude Inventories04/07NA9.009MModerate
W
Apr 11
14:00Federal Budget MarNA–$188.2BModerate
W
Apr 11
14:00Fed's Beige BookAprNANAModerate
Th
Apr 12
08:30Initial Unemployment Claims04/07355K357KModerate
Th
Apr 12
08:30Continuing Unemployment Claims03/313.350M3.338MModerate
Th
Apr 12
08:30Producer Price Index (PPI)Mar0.3%0.4%Moderate
Th
Apr 12
08:30Core PPIMar0.2%0.2%Moderate
Th
Apr 12
08:30Trade BalanceFeb–$52.0B–$52.6BModerate
F
Apr 13
08:30Consumer Price Index (CPI)Mar0.3%0.4%HIGH
F
Apr 13
08:30Core CPIMar0.2%0.1%HIGH
F
Apr 13
09:55Univ. of Michigan Consumer SentimentApr76.176.2Moderate

>> Federal Reserve Watch

Forecasting Federal Reserve policy changes in coming months... The Fed said it intends to keep the Funds Rate low for quite some time, which is what economists expect. Note: In the lower chart, a 1% probability of change is a 99% certainty the rate will stay the same.
Current Fed Funds Rate: 0%–0.25%
After FOMC meeting on:Consensus
Apr 250%–0.25%
Jun 200%–0.25%
Jul 310%–0.25%

Probability of change from current policy:

After FOMC meeting on:Consensus
Apr 25 <1%
Jun 20 <1%
Jul 31 <1%

For more information on Lending Contact
Bailey & Wood Financial Group
Juli Harding
Loan Officer
51 North US 31
Whiteland, IN, 46184
Cell: 812-325-6953
Toll Free: 855-350-HOME
Fax: 877-811-1269