Category Archives: Market Structure and Dynamics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index for May was unchanged from April but remains 3.3% higher than a year ago. Notably, the index for shelter rose 0.4% in May, the fourth consecutive monthly increase (up...

According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. GDP growth for Q1 2024 was revised down from 1.6% to 1.3%. The change was driven by a revision to consumer spending growth (from 2.5% to 2.0%). This...

The percentage of overall outstanding balances of consumer debt that was 30- 59 days past due– encompassing auto, credit card, mortgage, and personal loans – fell to 0.86% in April, from 1.04% in February. This...

U.S. household debt continues to rise, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit for Q1 2024. Household debt balances grew by $184 billion from the previous quarter, with...

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index found that prices rose slightly in April, up 3.4% YoY, and 0.3% from March 2024. Core inflation rose at its slowest pace since 2021. With inflation showing signs of...

According to the New York Times, credit bureaus are urging Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) lenders to report these loans to the bureaus to help borrowers create a credit history. However, some lenders have been...

The Wall Street Journal reports that private equity and asset management firms continue to grow and now rival the largest banks. These firms are expanding their services, targeting not only institutional clients, but expanding to...

With mortgage rates expected to drop later this year, challenges in the mortgage-backed securities market could limit benefits for homebuyers. Investor concerns about inflation and mortgage rates have resulted in a higher demand for yields...

Ginnie Mae issued a public notice to their issuer partners cautioning about elevated prepayments in certain mortgage-backed securities (MBS) programs and warning of potential consequences for violations. Ginnie Mae’s compliance rules guard against ‘habitual refinancing’...

A newcomer to the asset-backed securities (ABS) market, fiber securitizations are gaining momentum with issuance possibly as high as $5 billion in 2024. This growth is expected to continue over the next ten years. While...