Daily News 8/20/2015

August 20, 2015

Thursday – August 20

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reported that Existing Home Sales in July were up 2% from June to an annual rate of 5.59 million units, the highest pace since February 2007. The 5.59 million was above the 5.42 million expected. Since July 2014, sales are up 10%. A spokesperson from the NAR said that tight inventories are driving prices up and that a more robust housing market could provide further support for the U.S. economy.

The Federal Reserve released the minutes from its July 29 meeting on Wednesday with a majority of the members saying the time is coming for interest rates to rise. “Most judged that the conditions for policy firming had not yet been achieved, but noted that conditions were approaching that point.” Many analysts have been pointing towards a rate hike in September, but after the minutes were released, rates could rise later in the year and not next month.

Oil prices continue to edge lower this week, due to an over supply of oil around the globe. The price of West Texas Intermediate oil has fallen to $41/barrel, a six and a half year low. The drop in oil has lowered the price of gas at the pumps for most of the country. In parts of New Jersey, the price for a regular gallon of gasoline is at $2.07. The current national average price for a regular gallon of gas is at $2.66. Many gas analysts see the price of gas moving lower to a national average of $2 sometime in late fall.