Job Growth Jumps. Wage Growth Weakens.

In This Issue

Last Week in Review: While more Americans found jobs in January, they still may be looking to add more to their paychecks. Forecast for the Week: Markets may take a breather in a quiet economic news week. View: Free stock photo sites for picture-perfect marketing and presentations.

Last Week in Review

“I’m taking what they giving ’cause I’m working for a livin’.” Huey Lewis and the News. Job growth jumped in January, but wage growth weakened.
The Labor Department reported that U.S. employers hired 227,000 workers in January, above the 170,000 expected and signaling the sector kicked off 2017 on a high note. All was not rosy within the report, however. Average hourly earnings rose by a scant 0.1 percent versus the 0.3 percent expected. The December number was revised lower to 0.2 percent from the original 0.4 percent reported. In addition, job growth in November and December was revised lower by a total of 39,000. The Unemployment Rate ticked up to 4.8 percent from 4.7 percent.

Weak wage growth could lead to tepid inflation if the pattern continues, and inflation ended 2016 on a tame note. Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE), which strips out volatile food and energy, increased 0.1 percent versus the 0.2 percent in November. Year-over-year, Core PCE was up 1.7 percent.

And in housing news, the S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city Home Price Index rose by 5.3 percent from November 2015 to November 2016, up from October’s annual increase of 5.1 percent.

Maximum employment, price stability and a strong housing sector are key measures considered by the Fed when setting the course of monetary policy. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) kept its benchmark Fed Funds Rate unchanged when it met January 31 and February 1, despite indicating in December that three rate hikes were likely in 2017. At that time, the FOMC raised rates for only the second time in more than a decade.

While a “rate hike” may sound troublesome, purchase or refinance home loan rates are not directly tied to the Fed Funds Rate. The Fed Funds Rate is the short-term rate at which banks lend money to each other overnight. Instead, home loan rates are tied to Mortgage Backed Securities, which are a type of Bond.

For now, home loan rates remain in attractive territory.

If you or someone you know has any questions about current home loan rates or products, please don’t hesitate to contact me.

Forecast for the Week

The markets might take a breather in this week of light economic news.

• Weekly Initial Jobless Claims will be released Thursday.
• Friday brings the Consumer Sentiment Index.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve. In contrast, strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond on which home loan rates are based. When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving. When Bond prices are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse. To go one step further, a red “candle” means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green “candle” means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes are on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning. As you can see in the chart below, Mortgage Bonds have stabilized in recent weeks. Home loan rates are still in attractive territory. Chart: Fannie Mae 3.5%% Mortgage Bond (Feb 03, 2017)

The Mortgage Market Guide View…

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