By Jason Ma
Summary: The Federal Reserve’s latest meeting minutes revealed new concerns about the housing market, which has been dragging down economic momentum. Policymakers noted weakening demand, falling prices, and declining building permits—raising worries that housing could become a broader risk to jobs and growth. While the Fed also flagged risks from tariffs, the labor market, and AI’s impact on employment, the housing slowdown stood out as a new focus. Fresh data confirmed the slump, with flat home sales, subdued prices, and low builder confidence, suggesting housing activity will likely soften further. This shift could influence upcoming rate decisions, with Chair Jerome Powell hinting at a possible September rate cut.
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