Charts via Reuters.com
With a booming stock market and rising inflation growth, you might think the U.S. economy was blossoming with new opportunity out of every possible corner. Despite these gains, however, challenges remain in several sectors, most notably in home growth.
Reports show that home construction fell 9.3 percent last month, continuing a downward trend from May along with a drop in new home builder permits. Statistics like this, along with slow wage growth, are among reasons Fed leaders have stressed it's still not time to bump up interest rates.
The number of factors affecting economic growth and ultimately, home interest rates, are as varied as changes in the Colorado weather. The stock markets rebounded on Friday after a sharp drop on Thursday this week due to the loss of a Malaysian Airlines jet, stoking fears of increased geopolitical conflict with Russia. If such tensions with Russia or in the Middle East heighten, it could adversely affect the stock market and keep home interest rates low.
Aside from political concerns abroad, several problems hindering growth on U.S. soil include stubbornly high numbers beneath the poverty line, conservative consumer spending, and a lack of new homebuyers. CNNMoney.com compiled a list of 17 charts that show how the economy has flourished in some areas and struggled in others since the Great Recession officially ended. Such mixed reviews demonstrate how tricky it is to forecast how the markets could develop in the weeks and months ahead.
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