.comment-link {margin-left:.6em;}

Money

The www.FedPrimeRate.com Personal Finance Blog and Magazine

Friday, September 26, 2025

Consumer Sentiment: FINAL Results for September 2025

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) - FINAL Results for September 2025 was released today:

Predicted: 55.5
  • Actual: 55.1
=========

  • Change from Previous Month: -5.33% (-3.1 points)

  • Change from 12-Months Previous: -21.4% (-15.0 points)

=========

  • Final ICS Reading for August 2025: 58.2

  • Final ICS Reading for September 2024: 70.1

=========

From Today's Report:

"...Consumer sentiment confirmed its early-month reading and eased about 5% from last month but remains above the low readings seen in April and May of this year. Although September’s decline was relatively modest, it was still seen across a broad swath of the population, across groups by age, income, and education, and all five index components.

A key exception: sentiment for consumers with larger stock holdings held steady in September, while for those with smaller or no holdings, sentiment decreased.

This month, sentiment moved down about 9% for independents and 4% for Republicans, whereas it lifted this month for Democrats. Nationally, not only did macroeconomic expectations fall, particularly for labor markets and business conditions, but personal expectations did as well, with a softening outlook for their own incomes and personal finances.

Consumers continue to express frustration over the persistence of high prices, with 44% spontaneously mentioning that high prices are eroding their personal finances, the highest reading in a year.

Interviews this month highlight the fact that consumers feel pressure both from the prospect of higher inflation as well as the risk of weaker labor markets.

Year-ahead inflation expectations receded slightly to 4.7% from 4.8% last month. Long-run inflation expectations moved up for the second straight month to 3.7% in September, but stand much lower than the 4.4% spike seen in April.
.."
=========
CHART: Uncertainty Over Path of Inflation Plunges  Since May 2025, but Remains Historically High  - SEPTEMBER 2025 UPDATE
CHART: Uncertainty Over Path of Inflation Plunges 
Since May 2025, but Remains Historically High 
SEPTEMBER 2025 UPDATE

 
=========

The ICS is derived from the following five survey questions:

  1. "We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you (and your family living there) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?"

  2. "Now looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?"

  3. "Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?"

  4. "Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely: that in the country as a whole we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, or that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what?"

  5. "About the big things people buy for their homes, such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that. Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?"
=========


=========

The ICS uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the ICS = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as those polled back in 1966.

The ICS is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer valuable insight into consumer spending.

=========

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=========

========= 

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <--

CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE

--> SITEMAP <--

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Existing Home Sales During AUGUST 2025

Existing Home Sales report for August 2025 was released by The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR®) this morning:

======================

Previous Month: 4,010,000

  • Actual: 4,000,000
======================

  •  Change from Previous Month: -0.25% (-10,000 homes)

  •  Year-on-Year (Y-o-Y)+1.78% (+70,000 homes)
======================

  • Inventory: 1,530,000 homes.
(4.6 months supply | +160,000 [+11.68%] homes Y-o-Y.)

======================

The yellow-highlighted, "actual" figure above represents the preliminary, seasonally adjusted annualized sales count of existing homes, co-ops and condominiums for the indicated month. The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

------------------------------------------------------

  • Median Price: $422,600

  • Price Change from A Year Ago: +2.03% (+$8,400)

------------------------------------------------------ 

==========

==========

From Today's Report:

"...'Home sales have been sluggish over the past few years due to elevated mortgage rates and limited inventory,' said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. "However, mortgage rates are declining and more inventory is coming to the market, which should boost sales in the coming months.'

'Record-high housing wealth and a record-high stock market will help current homeowners trade up and benefit the upper end of the market. However, sales of affordable homes are constrained by the lack of inventory,' Yun added. "The Midwest was the best-performing region last month, primarily due to relatively affordable market conditions. The median home price in the Midwest is 22% below the national median price.'.
.."

==================

INFOGRAPHIC: Existing Home Sales AUGUST 2025 UPDATE (Copyright © 2025 REALTORS®)
INFOGRAPHIC: Existing Home Sales
AUGUST 2025 UPDATE
(Copyright © 2025 REALTORS®)
==================

==================

==================

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <--

CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE

--> SITEMAP <--

New Home Sales During AUGUST 2025

The August, 2025 New Home Sales report was released by the Commerce Department this morning:

------------------------------------------------------

Previous Month (revised): 664,000

  • Actual New Home Sales: 800,000

------------------------------------------------------

  • Change from One-Month Previous: +136,000 units (+20.48%)

  • Change from One-Year Previous: +107,000 units (+15.44%)


------------------------------------------------------

Median Price for a New Home
During 
August, 2025: $413,500

  • Change from One-Year Previous: +$7,700 (+1.9%)

 ***************************

Average Price for a New Home
During 
August, 2025: $534,100

  • Change from One-Year Previous: +$58,500 (+12.3%)


------------------------------------------------------
Inventory: 490,000 (+19,000 units / +4.03% Year-on-Year)

  • 7.4 months supply at current sales rate; seasonally‐adjusted estimate.

------------------------------------------------------

================================

CHART: Cost of A Newly Built Home - AUGUST 2025 Update
CHART: Cost of A Newly Built Home
AUGUST 2025 Update

================================


================================


Compiled jointly by the U.S. Commerce Department and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the yellow-highlighted figure above is the seasonally adjusted and annualized number of newly-built homes with committed buyers for the indicated month.


The New Home Sales report is watched by economists and investors because it offers insight into the state of the U.S. housing market, and also provides data that can be used to predict sales of large household furniture and appliances like refrigerators, air conditioners, microwave ovens, etc.

================================

================================

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <--

CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE

--> SITEMAP <--

Friday, September 12, 2025

Consumer Sentiment: PRELIMINARY Results for September 2025

The University of Michigan's Index of Consumer Sentiment (ICS) - PRELIMINARY Results for September, 2025 was released today:

Predicted: 58.0
  • Actual: 55.4
=========

  • Change from Previous Month: -4.81% (-2.8 points)

  • Change from 12 Months Previous: -21.0% (-14.7 points)

=========

  • Final ICS Reading for August 2025: 58.2

  • Final ICS Reading for September 2024: 70.1

=========

From Today's Report:

"...Consumer sentiment moved down less than three index points in early September. This month’s easing in economic views was particularly strong among lower and middle income consumers. Buying conditions for durables improved, while all other index components fell.

Consumers continue to note multiple vulnerabilities in the economy, with rising risks to business conditions, labor markets, and inflation.

Likewise, consumers perceive risks to their pocketbooks as well; current and expected personal finances both eased about 8% this month.

Trade policy remains highly salient to consumers, with about 60% of consumers providing unprompted comments about tariffs during interviews, little changed from last month.

Still, sentiment remains above April and May 2025 readings, immediately after the initial announcement of reciprocal tariffs.

Year-ahead inflation expectations held steady at 4.8%, unchanged from August. Long-run inflation expectations moved up for the second straight month to 3.9% in September. This current reading is considerably lower than the 4.4% seen in April.
.."
=========

CHART: Consumers Continue to Expect Unemployment to Rise, with Heightened Risks of Personal Job Loss - AUGUST 2025 UPDATE
CHART: Consumers Continue to Expect Unemployment
to Rise, with Heightened Risks of Personal Job Loss
AUGUST 2025 UPDATE

 
=========

The ICS is derived from the following five survey questions:

  1. "We are interested in how people are getting along financially these days. Would you say that you (and your family living there) are better off or worse off financially than you were a year ago?"

  2. "Now looking ahead, do you think that a year from now you (and your family living there) will be better off financially, or worse off, or just about the same as now?"

  3. "Now turning to business conditions in the country as a whole, do you think that during the next twelve months we'll have good times financially, or bad times, or what?"

  4. "Looking ahead, which would you say is more likely: that in the country as a whole we'll have continuous good times during the next five years or so, or that we will have periods of widespread unemployment or depression, or what?"

  5. "About the big things people buy for their homes, such as furniture, a refrigerator, stove, television, and things like that. Generally speaking, do you think now is a good or bad time for people to buy major household items?"
=========


=========

The ICS uses a 1966 baseline, i.e. for 1966, the ICS = 100. So any number that is below the 1966 baseline of 100 means that the folks who were polled recently aren't as optimistic about the U.S. economy as those polled back in 1966.

The ICS is similar to the Consumer Confidence Index in that they both measure consumer attitudes and offer valuable insight into consumer spending.

=========

The "predicted" figure is what economists were expecting, while the "actual" is the true or real figure.

=========

========= 

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <--

CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE

--> SITEMAP <--

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Powerball® for September 13, 2025 Drawing: FREE POWERBALL TICKET for Completing A Short Survey

Free Powerball® Lottery Ticket

Right now, the Powerball® jackpot for the Saturday, September 13, 2025 drawing is $50 million (estimated.)

So I got an email message from the most excellent folks @  
NY.Lotto.cominforming me that I qualify for a free Powerball lottery ticket, in exchange for completing a quick survey.

So I jumped on it.

Took me less than 2 minutes to complete, and the free ticket was available right away.

I am not sure how I qualified for this offer, but you can click here for the survey.

Hopefully, all U.S. residents can qualify. 

Anything you win can be transferred directly to your bank account via the Internet.  Easy peasy.

If you play, have fun, and good luck🔮🎉✌😊

Labels: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,


--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <--

CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE

--> SITEMAP <--

Friday, September 05, 2025

Powerball® Jackpot Is $1.8 Billion for the Saturday, September 6, 2025 Drawing

Powerball - Lotto.com
I am not a lottery person.  It's not a smart thing to do.  

But when a jackpot gets really big, I may play with no more than $5, just for fun. 😊  

The overall odds of winning a Powerball® prize are 1 in 24.87.

The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292,201,338.😐

So when I saw that the Powerball® jackpot soared to 💰$1.7 BILLION💸...I just had to play!😇

I did not win on Wednesday, but since there was no jackpot winner, Saturday's jackpot is now $1.8 billion (cash value is considerably lower.)

So imagine how happy I was to find that amazing folks at NY.Lotto.com gave me another chance FOR FREE!

So now I am "In It to WIN IT" for the Saturday, September 6, 2025 drawing.

And I don't even have to leave the house to play!  I love the Internet So MUCH! 😌

Winnings can be transferred directly to your bank account.  Easy peasy.

For some perspective on this massive jackpot...⯆

Top Ten Powerball® Jackpots

$2.04 Billion – Nov. 7, 2022 – CA
$1.765 Billion – Oct. 11, 2023 - CA
$1.70 Billion (estimated) – Sept. 6, 2025
$1.586 Billion – Jan. 13, 2016 – CA, FL, TN
$1.326 Billion – April 6, 2024 – OR
$1.08 Billion – July 19, 2023 – CA
$842.4 Million – January 1, 2024 – MI
$768.4 Million – March 27, 2019 – WI
$758.7 Million – Aug. 23, 2017 – MA
$754.6 Million – Feb. 6, 2023 - WA

Labels: , , , , , , , , , ,


--> www.FedPrimeRate.com Privacy Policy <--

CLICK HERE to JUMP to the TOP of THIS PAGE

--> SITEMAP <--


bing

bing


SCAMS!

FedPrimeRate.com
Entire Website © 1999 - 2025 FedPrimeRate.comSM


This website is neither affiliated nor associated with The United States Federal Reserve
in any way. Information in this website is provided for educational purposes only. The owners
of this website make no warranties with respect to any and all content contained within this
website. Consult a financial professional before making important decisions related to any
investment or loan product, including, but not limited to, business loans, personal loans,
education loans, first or second mortgages, credit cards, car loans or any type of insurance.