Federal Reserve Needs to Manage Mortgage Rates – Raise Your Hand If You Agree

CPI used by Federal Reserve rose slowly. 2021 – 7.6% 2022 – 6.3%

But Median Home Price (Inflation) rose faster. 2021 – 18% 2022 – 13%

The problem is the Fed was watching the CPI and not looking at housing prices which rose a lot faster. That resulted in similar large rent increases. Powell and the Fed did NOT recognize the need to raise rates UNTIL January 11, 2022.

Solution 1: Have Congress give the Federal Reserve the mission of controlling mortgage rates in conjunction with housing inflation. OR

Solution 2: Combine the Federal Student Aid, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac agencies into the new Federal Loan Administration and have it set rates in conjunction with the Federal Reserve for student and housing loans. Student loan rates and mortgage rates would rise as demand rises or as prices rise. Likewise they would go down independently of the Fed Funds Rate as demand goes down or as prices drop.

Still Loving Work From Home

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#FederalReserve aka #Fed Discovers Gold – Fools Gold

No.  I am NOT talking about the movie, Fool’s Gold.

foolsgold

I am talking about the Fed finding wealth and a strong economy where there is none.

Like the little boy who cried “Wolf!”,  the Fed keeps saying “The Economy is good!”

Here is the fool’s gold the Fed uses to keep saying :The Economy is good!”

1. Auto sales are up.  Well they were up until the recently released May report showed a drop of 6%.  The recent auto sales were propped up by easy credit but now they have run out of buyers.  Here are details.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-autos-idUSKCN0YN4K0

2. Home sales are up.  Well they were up until the June 1, 2016 report.  Again home sales have been boosted by easy credit and low interest rates until now. Here are details.

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/06/01/mortgage-applications-drop-because-of-rate-uncertainty.html

3. Unemployment is down.  Well unemployment has dropped to 4.7% but the recent jobs report announced June 3, 2016 showed a shocking one fifth the average number of jobs created.  Unemployment went down because more people have given up or are retired. Here are details.

http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/03/news/economy/us-economy-may-jobs-report/

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Here are the real concerns the Fed should be looking at.

1. Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.  These firms have been using derivatives to hedge against interest rate changes and lost $475 million last year. Here are details.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/freddie-mac-may-need-another-taxpayer-bailout-next-week-2016-04-29

2. US Productivity.  The statistics show it went down 1% in the first quarter and now one of the Fed members says it may go down again this month. Here are details.

http://www.reuters.com/article/usa-fed-evans-productivity-idUSU8N16O051

3. Corporate Bond Sales.  These are still high and may match last year’s record in order to finance other mergers. Here are details.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-04-28/get-ready-for-a-big-wave-of-u-s-corporate-bond-sales-in-may

In summary, the 2008 bailout involved lower interest rates.  But the Fed should have raised interest rates in 2011 instead of maintaining the ridiculous 2% inflation target.  Here is how:

The Kelley Monetary Policy Rule

Or if you want more information on whether a recession is coming or not, read this.

Why Another Recession Is Coming – In English

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The Fed is chartered with controlling inflation and encouraging job growth.  One Fed member recently said they are too busy to add a third task aka improving the economy.  Well they have dropped the ball on job growth which would have improved the economy.  Here is what the Fed could have and still can do for job growth.

Federal Reserve Can Create Jobs

Good luck out there.

Caption Contest – Retirement

Here is my entry to the USA Caption Contest featuring art work by Mike Smith.

caption_201308

For more retirement fun look at this post.

Cheating Death By Procrastination