This Week: Home sales, Fed meeting minutes and consumer sentiment index
A look at some of the key business events and economic indicators upcoming this week
SPOTLIGHT ON HOUSING
The National Association of Realtors releases its monthly snapshot of existing U.S. home sales Wednesday.
Economists project that sales of previously occupied homes slowed slightly in April from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.18 million homes. The spring homebuying season is off to a sluggish start this year as home shoppers contend with elevated mortgage rates and rising prices.
Existing home sales, in millions, seasonally adjusted annual rate:
Nov. 3.91
Dec. 3.88
Jan. 4.00
Feb. 4.38
March 4.19
April (est.) 4.18
Source: FactSet
FED CLOSE-UP
The Federal Reserve delivers the minutes from its most recent interest rate policy meeting Wednesday.
At that meeting, Fed officials emphasized that inflation has remained stubbornly high in recent months and said the central bank doesn’t plan to cut interest rates until it has greater confidence that price increases are slowing sustainably to its 2% target. Several hotter-than-expected reports on prices and economic growth have recently undercut the Fed’s belief that inflation was steadily easing.
Related articles
With Djokovic awaiting the winner, Murray trails Hanfmann at rain
GENEVA (AP) — Needing a win to face Novak Djokovic next at the Geneva Open, Andy Murray was saved by2024-05-21Ukraine's Zelensky warns of dwindling air defence missiles
Volodymyr Zelensky. Photo: TIMOTHY A. CLARY / AFP2024-05-21Yemen's Houthis say they targeted Western ships
By Muhammad Al Gebaly, Hatem Maher and Tala Ramadan, for ReutersHouthi followers protest to condemn2024-05-21Food price hikes stall, thanks to lowered cost of fruit and veges
Tumbling fresh food prices are helping to keep the brakes on consumer inflation. Photo: Nadine Prime2024-05-21Pope trip to Luxembourg, Belgium confirmed for September, 2 weeks after challenging Asia visit
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has added a stop in Luxembourg to a trip to Belgium in September, a three-d2024-05-21Samoa citizenship bill passes first hurdle in Parliament with help of ACT and NZ First
By Audrey Young of2024-05-21
atest comment