Economy

The brief optimism that emerged in the housing market at the start of 2026 has quickly faded. Mortgage rates have surged back above 6% as rising oil prices, inflation concerns and shifting Fed expectations push borrowing costs higher. The result is a market once again constrained by affordability, where demand is pulling back and activity is slowing.

Mortgage rates are down, but homebuyers aren’t rushing back. Prices are still high, inventory remains tight, and many Americans are cautious about the economy. We break down why the market isn’t moving, even with cheaper loans

The U.S. unemployment rate remains at historically low levels even as job growth slows and labor market cracks widen. Retirements, discouraged workers, fewer working mothers, and declining immigration are shrinking the labor force, keeping the rate artificially low.

The U.S. housing market remains slow in early 2026, with data showing a decline in existing home sales. Although mortgage rates have eased and incomes are rising faster than home prices, affordability challenges and economic uncertainty are preventing a meaningful rebound

The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate to its lowest level in three years in an effort to support a cooling labor market. While inflation remains contained, policymakers are divided on whether another rate cut in December is warranted. Mortgage rates have already fallen to a one-year low, but further declines will depend on upcoming economic data and inflation trends.

As the housing affordability crisis deepens, a once-unthinkable idea has entered the mainstream conversation: the 50-year mortgage. With home prices at record highs and mortgage rates still well above their 2020–2021 lows, some policymakers are searching for creative ways to

The September employment report delivered what looked like a mixed message: employers added 119,000 jobs, yet the unemployment rate still edged higher. At first glance, those two trends seem contradictory. But when you break down how the labor market is

Despite Fed’s September rate cut and projections for two more in 2025, mortgage rates remain elevated. A softening labor market is further eroding buyer confidence. With affordability stretched and supply still tight, lower rates alone may not be enough to revive housing demand.

The latest U.S. inflation and labor market data reveal a challenging balance for the Federal Reserve. While CPI held steady at 2.7% in July, core inflation accelerated to 3.1%, and producer prices jumped, limiting monetary flexibility. At the same time, weak job gains, rising unemployment, and stalled labor participation are pressuring policymakers toward rate cuts, with major implications for mortgage rates and housing affordability through late 2025.