Mortgage rates fell again this week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Wednesday. Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Wednesday, showed the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage decreased to 6.18% from last week's reading of 6.21%. The average rate on a 30-year loan was 6.85% a year ago. THESE 10 MARKETS MAY SEE THE BIGGEST HOMEBUYING SURGE AS MORTGAGE RATES FALL "The modest decline reflects a bond market that moved throughout the week – albeit within a tight range – f ...

We are awaiting GDP data this morning. Final real day of data before everyone leaves and goes home for the Christmas holiday. Although we need to point out that this data is going to be stale.Remember, we didn't get it in time because of the longest government shutdown in history. And actually, what we're getting to, Matt, as you can see, is reaction here. A massive upside surprise.Prior was 3.8%. Their survey was 3.3%. GDP comes in at 4.3% this morning, Matt.That is an uptick not many people were expecting ...

The Federal Reserve expects gross domestic product to grow quickly in 2026, faster than what they thought just months ago. Some of that may be AI, just also, I think productivity has just been almost structurally higher for several years now. We have had a boost in productivity growth. And he was pointing out that that boost in productivity had occurred even before AI was a big thing on the scene.Economists believe AI could dramatically change how Americans work. In terms of policy makers concerns, employme ...

The Federal Reserve expects gross domestic product to grow quickly in 2026, faster than what they thought just months ago. Some of that may be AI, just also, I think productivity has just been almost structurally higher for several years now. We have had a boost in productivity growth. And he was pointing out that that boost in productivity had occurred even before AI was a big thing on the scene.Economists believe AI could dramatically change how Americans work. In terms of policy makers concerns, employme ...

Core Viewpoint - Lowe's shares have underperformed compared to the S&P 500 in 2025, raising questions about potential recovery in 2026 [3][4]. Group 1: 2025 Performance - Lowe's share price decreased by 0.1% through December 15, 2025, while the S&P 500 appreciated by 15.6% [3]. - Including dividends, Lowe's total return was 2.8%, significantly lower than the S&P 500's total return of 17.3% [3]. - The company's market capitalization stands at $135 billion, with a current share price of $240.44 [4]. Group 2: Sales and Financial Metrics - Lowe's reported positive same-store sales over recent quarters, but fiscal third-quarter comps only increased by 0.4% [5]. - The increase in comps was driven by higher spending, with the average ticket contributing 3.4 percentage points, while traffic decline accounted for a 3 percentage point drop in comps [5]. - The gross margin for Lowe's is 31.42%, and the dividend yield is 1.95% [4][5]. Group 3: Economic Factors Influencing 2026 - Lowe's sales are closely tied to the overall economy, as consumers are more likely to undertake home improvement projects when they feel economically secure [6]. - Key economic indicators to monitor include new and existing home sales, as these typically lead to increased remodeling projects [7]. - Interest rates, particularly long-term Treasury yields and short-term rates set by the Federal Reserve, will impact mortgage rates and home equity loans, affecting homebuying and renovation financing [8]. Group 4: Employment and Consumer Confidence - Employment trends show signs of weakness, which could deter consumer spending at Lowe's for significant projects [9]. - Consumer confidence is crucial; higher confidence levels typically lead to increased spending, which can boost economic growth [9]. Group 5: Strategic Initiatives - Lowe's is focusing on the professional contractor market, having made significant acquisitions, including Foundation Building Materials for $8.8 billion and Artisan Design Group for $1.3 billion [10]. - Management's commentary on progress in the professional contractor segment and sales growth in this market will be important to monitor [10].

>> IF YOU WANT TO GET A REAL READ ON EMPLOYMENT, I ALWAYS LIKE TO CHECK IN WITH PAYCHEX. THAT'S THE PAYROLL PROCESSOR AND OUTSOURCED HUMAN RESOURCES. PLAY MAINLY SERVES SMALL AND MEDIUM SIZED BUSINESSES.THIS MORNING, PAYCHEX REPORTED A MODEST TOP AND BOTTOM LINE BEAT. MANAGEMENT. RAISING THE MIDPOINT OF THE FULL YEAR EARNINGS FORECAST FOR THE SECOND QUARTER IN A ROW.SO FAR, SO GOOD. BUT WHEN SOME OF THESE ANALYSTS DUG DOWN, THEY SAW THINGS THEY DIDN'T LIKE. THE COMPANY'S MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS BUSINESS NARROW ...

And now let's unwrap what to watch in the next two weeks into January. And avocado and garlic are terms you need to remember. Joining us now, Adam Chrisouli, Vital Knowledge founder and president.Adam, we're not making guacamole here. It's AI. >> Yes.Uh AI, you know, is still the most important theme trend in this market. And so, um, Garlic and Avocado are the two frontier LLM models that are due out, uh, around Q1. Um, for open AI, it's garlic and meta's Avocado.Um, and this is really going to be probably ...

Americans looking for work are unlikely to see much improvement in their prospects in 2026, economists say https://t.co/cC10HOlNYx ...

Madison, Wisconsin, is the best U.S. city for Gen Z workers, based on affordability, employment, and social life. Find other top destinations for young workers willing to move. https://t.co/MZ11PInUgB ...

Here are the key takeaways from the monthly US jobs report https://t.co/uJRerShrur ...