Here Are Today's Refinance Rates, Aug. 24, 2023: Benchmark Rate Increases
The recent increase in the average interest rate for refinancing has been influenced by the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes and the effects of inflation.
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Posted 8/24/2023, 3:38:00 PM
cnet.com
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The Federal Reserve raised interest rates to their highest level in 22 years, but experts expect the market to react less dramatically than in the past.
Two Federal Reserve officials suggest that interest-rate increases may be coming to an end, but one of them believes that further hikes may still be necessary depending on inflation trends.
Despite concerns over rising deficits and debt, central banks globally have been buying government debt to combat deflationary forces, which has kept interest rates low and prevented a rise in rates as deficits increase; therefore, the assumption that interest rates must go higher may be incorrect.
The president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia believes that the US central bank has already raised interest rates enough to bring inflation down to pre-pandemic levels of around 2%.
Mortgage rates have increased over the past week, with the average 15-year fixed and 30-year fixed rates rising, as well as the 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgage, due to inflation and the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes.
Former White House economist Kevin Hassett predicts that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates again due to increasing inflation and energy prices.
US homeowners are opting for cash-out refinances less frequently due to rising interest rates, impacting their ability to access funds for spending, debt repayment, and other purposes.
US consumer spending increased by the most in six months in July, driven by strong demand for goods and services, but slowing inflation rates suggest that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged next month.
The latest inflation data suggests that price increases are cooling down, increasing the likelihood that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates unchanged in their upcoming meeting.
The U.S. economy has shown unexpected strength, with a resilient labor market and cooling inflation improving the odds of avoiding a recession and achieving a soft landing, but the full effects of rising interest rates may take time to filter through the economy.
The Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge increased slightly in July, suggesting that the fight against inflation may be challenging, but the absence of worse news indicates that officials are likely to maintain interest rates.
The US economy may face disruption as debts are refinanced at higher interest rates, which could put pressure on both financial institutions and the government, according to Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta President Raphael Bostic.
The U.S. is currently experiencing a prolonged high inflation cycle that is causing significant damage to the purchasing power of the currency, and the recent lower inflation rate is misleading as it ignores the accumulated harm; in order to combat this cycle, the Federal Reserve needs to raise interest rates higher than the inflation rate and reverse its bond purchases.
Fidelity International's Salman Ahmed predicts a recession due to rising interest rates and high levels of corporate debt that will face higher refinancing costs, potentially leading to a slowdown in growth and decreased consumer spending.
Wall Street banks are revising their outlooks for Turkish interest rates as inflation rises faster than expected, with JPMorgan, Morgan Stanley, and Bank of America suggesting that borrowing costs may need to rise higher or quicker in response to the surge in price growth.
Mortgage rates have increased over the past week, with the average interest rates for 15-year fixed and 30-year fixed mortgages rising, while the average rate for 5/1 adjustable-rate mortgages declined; the Federal Reserve's efforts to control inflation by raising the federal funds rate may impact mortgage rates, but experts suggest that the markets have already factored in the increase.
Inflation has decreased significantly in recent months, but the role of the Federal Reserve in this decline is questionable as there is little evidence to suggest that higher interest rates led to lower prices and curtailed demand or employment. Other factors such as falling energy prices and the healing of disrupted supply chains appear to have had a larger impact on slowing inflation.
Rising energy costs are predicted to contribute to an increase in inflation rate, but it is unlikely to prompt the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates, though there may be another rate hike in the future.
The European Central Bank has implemented its 10th consecutive interest rate increase in an attempt to combat high inflation, although there are concerns that higher borrowing costs could lead to a recession; however, the increase may have a negative impact on consumer and business spending, particularly in the real estate market.
Stronger-than-expected U.S. economic data, including a rise in producer prices and retail sales, has sparked concerns about sticky inflation and has reinforced the belief that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer.
Higher interest rates next year will negatively impact a significant number of corporations when they need to refinance, according to Mohamed El-Erian, the chief economic adviser at Allianz SE.
Mortgage rates continue to rise, reaching an average of 7.18% for 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, as experts remain divided on whether the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates further.
New research suggests that elevated interest rates may not have been the main cause of the decline in inflation, sparking a debate about whether the Federal Reserve needs to raise rates again.
The Federal Reserve is expected to hold off on raising interest rates, but consumers are still feeling the impact of previous hikes, with credit card rates topping 20%, mortgage rates above 7%, and auto loan rates exceeding 7%.
Higher-than-expected inflation has triggered a 'reflation trade' in markets recently, but the increases won’t last and investors should take heed.
Refinancing demand for home loans increased despite rising mortgage rates, as borrowers are likely concerned about further rate hikes and the limited inventory of homes for sale.
The Federal Reserve is leaving its key interest rate unchanged as it moderates its fight against inflation, but plans to raise rates once more this year, as policymakers remain concerned about inflation not falling fast enough.
The U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady but left room for potential rate hikes, as they see progress in fighting inflation and aim to bring it down to the target level of 2 percent; however, officials projected a higher growth rate of 2.1 percent for this year and suggested that core inflation will hit 3.7 percent this year before falling in 2024 and reaching the target range by 2026.
Sweden's central bank has raised interest rates for the eighth consecutive time to combat high inflation, as the country's economy shows signs of improvement, while Norway's central bank also opted to raise rates and signaled the likelihood of another hike in December.
The Turkish central bank has increased interest rates by five points to 30% in an effort to combat soaring inflation, which is above expectations, and the bank suggests that more rate hikes are likely in the future.
The Federal Reserve is paying attention to "real" interest rates, which measures rates adjusted for inflation, and is using this to inform its decisions regarding future rate hikes and inflation.