Sonja Rudd
Sonja Rudd
consumer core department ending energy five food interest labor largest months noted numbers overall partly prices rate rates rose taking
The Labor Department also noted that for 2005 consumer prices overall rose by the largest rate in five years, partly because of spiraling interest rates and energy prices. The CPI was up by 3.4% for the 12 months ending in December. However, taking out core numbers from food and energy, the number was up only 2.2%.
commerce department economist home housing last market mortgage room sales says slump surprised week
New home sales surprised the experts. The Commerce Department said that new home sales were up by 13.8% for March, and last week used home sales were up as well. One economist says that the housing market still has a lot of room to maneuver and that a slump is more like a 'soft landing' for 2006. The 30-year mortgage is averaging 6.49% nationwide.