• Skip to main navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to footer

Quick Search

Parkland FL Homes for saleParkland FL Homes for sale

Search homes for sale in Parkland and surrounding areas

  • Home
  • Search
    • Advanced Search
    • Featured Properties
    • Newest Homes for Sale
    • Upcoming Open Houses
    • My Account / Login
  • Area
    • Parkland
    • Boca Raton
    • Coconut Creek
    • Coral Springs
    • Margate
    • Tamarac
  • Buy
    • Steps to Buying
    • Mortgage Calculator
  • Sell
    • Free Home Valuation
    • Marketing Your Home
    • Selling your Home with Jon Klein
  • Reviews
  • Contact
SearchClose

FOMC Minutes: Rate Hike May be Near

FOMC Minutes Rate Hike May be NearThe minutes for the most recent meeting of the Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) suggest that while committee members won’t specify a date, a rate hike could come sooner than later. Committee members continue to cite concerns over labor markets and other economic factors, but the minutes of the FOMC meeting held July 28 and 29 indicate that a majority of members see a rate change as likely in the near term.

Economic Conditions “Approaching” Readiness for Rate Hike

According to the minutes released Wednesday, the time for raising rates is not hear yet, but a majority of FOMC members feel that the time is approaching when economic conditions will warrant an increase of the target federal funds rate which is currently set at 0.00 to 0.25 percent. When the Fed increases this rate, consumer loan rates including mortgage rates are expected to increase as well.

Achieving maximum employment is one of the Fed’s mandates; labor markets continue to improve as the national unemployment achieved its lowest reading for 2015 as of June, but labor force participation and the unemployment to population ratio have also declined. On a positive note, the number of part-time workers was lower and under-utilization of workers was lower than since the beginning of the year.

Committee members continued to have varied opinions about whether employment rates are low enough to indicate that the Fed’s mandate of “maximum” employment had been achieved.

Inflation remains below the 2.00 percent medium-term goal set by the Fed. FOMC members have consistently indicated that they don’t expect to see inflation achieve the target rate in the near term.

Housing Markets Show Improvement

The minutes noted that while construction of new homes declined in June, new starts increased over the second quarter. Sales of new homes were lower in June, but sales of existing homes increased. Building permits issued suggest the rate of construction is stable but little changed. Pending home sales were stable and suggest little change in completed home sales in the near term.

A jump in multifamily building permits were attributed to an expiring tax credit date, but housing analysts have repeatedly cited the millennial generation as preferring to live and work in large metro areas where housing can be out of reach for all but the top tier of earners. In other economic sectors, the minutes said that auto loans and student loans continued to grow.

The FOMC minutes indicate the same position of FOMC members in recent months; while the national unemployment rate is low, the Fed does not expect to see inflation at the agency’s target rate of 2.00 percent immediately. Committee members note that they will continue to monitor domestic and global financial conditions as part of the fact-finding process necessary for deciding when to the federal target funds rate,

Speculation over when the Fed will move to raise rates has persisted for several months and will no doubt continue until the Fed does decide to raise rates.

Posted in: Market Outlook Tagged: Federal Reserve, FOMC, target federal funds rate

Post navigation

« Five Required Mortgage Closing Costs – And A Few Tips On How To Minimize Them
Buying an Investment Property? 3 Key Home Features That Will Help Ensure You Turn a Profit »

Contact Jon Now

Parkland FL REALTOR®Jon Klein, REALTOR®, P.A.,GRI

954-415-5595 Direct

954-449-9325 Office

954-827-0464 Fax

jon@jonklein.com

5691 Coral Ridge Drive
Coral Springs, FL 33076

RE/MAX 1st Choice Logo, Coral Springs, FL
Jon Klein Team Logo, Parkland, FL

Connect with Us

© 2022 · RE/MAX 1st Choice, Jon Klein · Direct: 954-415-5595 · Fax: 954-827-0464 · Sitemap · IDX Sitemap · IDX XML Sitemap · Parkland FL Homes for Sale · Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement

Disclaimer - All Rights Reserved by RE/MAX 1st Choice, Jon Klein
Direct: 954-415-5595 | Find me on Google | Directions to Jon Klein

Log in · Real Estate Websites by Real Estate Websites by YourSiteNeedsMe.com