Sharkey, Howes & Javer

This week on Inside the Economy, we address what the future may hold for the economy following a period of strong market performance. Strong corporate earnings have helped drive the markets, but new money entering the markets has also played an important role. Where is some of that money being invested? Real disposable income has recently turned negative following a surge in inflation. What short term event caused that increase in inflation? Meanwhile, the personal savings rate has leveled off at 2 percent, which is more consistent with historical norms. What do consumer debt levels look like, including credit card balances and mortgage delinquencies? The mortgage backed securities (MBS) market is currently showing a current coupon MBS yield of 5.3 percent. Since the start of the Iran conflict, yields have moved higher, reflecting reduced market expectations for near-term rate cuts. Is the spread between mortgage backed securities and Treasuries tightening or widening? Finally, at the beginning of the Iran co