Pre-Fed Meeting Economic Data Reports: Lack-Luster - 30-Year Rates Favorable
Local 30-Year Conforming Rates stabilize at 5.875% (0+0). Source: Jawad Hamandi: B.F. Saul Mortgage - (703) 787-4822
MarketWatch.com reports:
In BLS reports released today, the Labor Department said Consumer Prices (CPI) rose 0.4% (higher than analysts 0.3% estimates) in February, driven by higher food, energy, shelter and tobacco prices. However, Core CPI prices rose a more moderate 0.2% in line with analysts expectations.
The Reuters/University of Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index fell to 88.8 in March from 91.3 in February, Reuters reported Friday. The decline was exactly as expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch.
Both subindexes were also at the lowest levels since September.
Attitudes about the current economy fell to 103.6 from 106.7 in February.
The expectations index dropped to 79.3 from 81.5 in February. The expectations index is one of the 10 leading economic indicators.
Consumers' inflation expectations were unchanged from February. Over the next year, consumers expect prices to rise 3%. Over the next five years, they expect prices to rise 2.9% annually. The Fed watches the UMich inflation expectations carefully for signs of slippage.
And higher utility output pushed Industrial Production up 1% in February, the Federal Reserve reported. Factory output rose 0.4%. Capacity utilization rose to 82%.