Labor Market, Jobs Report, Mortgage Credit

November 06, 2015

Friday – November 6

Strength in the U.S. labor market rebounded in October to the fastest pace of the year, after weak numbers in August and September. The Labor Department reported that Non-farm Payrolls rose by 271,000 last month, which could push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates in December. The 271,000 was well above the 181,000 expected, while August and September were revised higher by a total of 12,000.

Within the Jobs Report it showed that wage growth accelerated to the fastest year-over-year pace since 2009. The Unemployment Rate fell to 5% from 5.1%, the lowest level since April 2008, before the Great Recession began. Gains were seen in white collar businesses, health care, retailers and restaurants. The solid report signals that the world’s largest economy is back on track. The so-called U6 number fell to 9.8%, the first time below 10% since May 2008. The U6 number are those people who can’t find work or those with only part-time jobs.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported this week that mortgage credit availability continued to loosen in October, due in part to new conforming loan programs. The Mortgage Credit Availability Index rose 1.5% last month to 128.4, after an increase in September. A spoke person for the MBA said many of the new conforming loan programs were affordable housing programs, which have lower down payment requirements.