April 24th, 2026 11:46 AM by T. Fanning
Happy Friday!
Mortgage rates moved around this week as news about possible Middle East peace talks made markets jumpy, but rates still ended a bit higher. The biggest report showed consumer spending was stronger than expected—retail sales jumped 1.7% in March, the biggest gain in a year, with most categories seeing growth. Jobless claims came in low at 210,000, showing the job market is still pretty solid and companies aren’t rushing to lay people off.
Looking ahead, markets will stay focused on the conflict in the Middle East. The Fed meets Wednesday and isn’t expected to change rates, but investors will be watching for hints about how higher oil prices could impact future decisions. A few key reports are also coming: Housing Starts on Wednesday, then on Thursday both the PCE inflation index (the Fed’s preferred measure) and first-quarter GDP, which shows overall economic growth. The week wraps up Friday with the ISM manufacturing index, which measures how the factory sector is performing based on things like new orders, production, and employment.
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