APRIL 24, 2025 Economic Update

1. LEADING ECONOMIC INDEX The Conference Board’s US Leading Economic Index (LEI) fell by 0.7% in March, pointing to slowing economic activity in the near term. March’s decline coincided with soaring economic uncertainty ahead of tariff announcements. Consumer expectations fell, and stock prices experienced their largest monthly decline since September 2022. The Conference Board stresses …

MARCH 13, 2025 Economic Update

1. CPI INFLATION The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% in February and 2.8% year-over-year, cooling more than expected and potentially providing some relief to markets and policymakers on guard about price pressures.  Core-CPI, which removes the more volatile food and energy components, mirrored the headline 0.2% month-over-month figure but arrived slightly higher on an …

OCTOBER 24, 2024 Economic Update

1. ECONOMIC ACTIVITY REMAINS STEADY  According to the October 23rd release of the Federal Reserve’s Beige Book Summary of National Economic Activity, activity has changed little in nearly all districts since early September, though two districts have reported modest growth. The latest Beige Book provides an additional glimpse at how the US economy has performed …

DECEMBER 22, 2023 Economic Update

1. 2024 US MULTIFAMILY OUTLOOK  According to a recent forecast by Yardi Matrix, the US multifamily sector faces a mixed outlook in 2024. While apartments have performed relatively healthily during the Fed’s ongoing tightening cycle, sector valuations will face challenges from a wave of supply coming online alongside rapid growth in costs and mortgage rates …

DECEMBER 16, 2022 Economic Update

1. FOMC INTEREST RATE DECISION  On December 14th, the Federal Reserve’s policy-setting committee raised their target Federal Funds Rate (FFR) range by 50 basis points to 4.25%-4.50%, slowing their speed of rate increases after four consecutive 75 basis point hikes — an apparent response to evidence of slowing inflation. In their statement accompanying the FOMC …