IS THERE AN INTEREST RATE HIKE COMING?

According to a story posted by Reuters this week, the Federal Reserve said the U.S. economy and job market continue to strengthen, thus leaving the door open to a possible rate hike when central bank policymakers next meet in September.

Of course, we don’t know if this will definitely happen and to what extent it will be raised if it does take place. But, clearly, this is something we should be closely monitoring in the coming weeks.

The story indicates that central bank officials and market analysts have been waiting to see if weak growth in the first part of the year signaled the beginning of the end of an economic expansion or merely a pause.

Following a two-day policy meeting, Fed officials said they felt the economy had overcome a first-quarter slowdown and was “expanding moderately” despite a downturn in the energy sector and headwinds from overseas.

Most economists forecast that the U.S. economic growth would pick up after a lackluster first half and that the Fed would begin its monetary tightening, according to another Reuters poll published earlier this month.

“The Fed is taking baby steps towards a rate hike,” said Brian Jacobsen, Chief Portfolio Strategist at Wells Fargo Funds Management. “Enough improvements have been made in the labor market that the Fed only needs a little more confirming evidence to say it is time.”

Stay tuned!

About First International Title

Founded in 2009 during one of the slowest real estate markets in the past half century, First International Title has grown from a handful of offices to over 30 offices throughout the state, from Key West to Pensacola, including its company headquarters in Coral Springs. We provide closing services in English, Spanish, German and French. With a combined 1,000 years of experience, our staff has extensive experience closing residential, refinance, reverse mortgage, short sale, REO, deed-in-lieu and commercial transactions. We do not outsource or offshore any portion of our core title services. We employ our own searchers and examiners to ensure quick turn times and accuracy. At First International Title, we put our customers first.