Forecast for the Week: A full slate of economic reports is ahead, with news on inflation, the housing market, manufacturing and more.

View: Did you know that bad news can be good for home loan rates? Be sure to read the article below.

As you can see in the chart, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) said that of the 146 Metro cities surveyed, home prices rose in 74 of them in Q1 2012. This is up from 29 cities that saw an increase in home prices in Q4 2011. In addition, the NAR also said that inventories for existing homes fell 22% since this time last year and are down 41% since the peak in mid-2007. While the housing market has a long way to go, this report was a nice step in the right direction.

There was also news from the National Federation of Independent Business, which said that its small business optimism index gained 2% in April as the survey revealed that companies have increased plans for hiring and investing in the future. While companies added new employees at a slower pace in April than in March, the index rose to 94.5 — the highest level since February of 2011. Overall, though, the report showed that our economy is improving but is still fragile. The state of our economy is part of the reason for the improvement in Bonds (and home loan rates, which are tied to Mortgage Bonds) of late.

Another big reason that Bonds and home loan rates have been improving is the fresh round of uncertainty out of Europe. France elected a new president, and this change of the guard represents the ninth EuroZone leader swap since the financial crisis began. Greece is also back in the news and their citizens are not taking to the austerity measures either. The New Democracy government, a pro-bailout party, is having trouble gathering the support to rule the government. This has sparked some safe haven trading into our Bonds, as investors see our Bonds as a safe place for their money.

The bottom line is that now continues to be a great time to purchase or refinance a home, as home loan rates remain near historic lows. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

• Retail Saleswill be released on Tuesday. This report gives the markets some insight to how consumer spending is holding up.
• Also on Tuesday, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will report on inflation at the consumer level. Last week’s Producer Price Indexshowed that inflation at the wholesale level has moderated, thanks to lower energy prices. Will CPI follow suit?
• Manufacturing from the New York Empire and Philadelphia Fed Indexwill also be released Tuesday and Thursday, respectively.
• Housing Starts and Building Permitsdata will be delivered on Wednesday.
• Last — but not least — will be the Weekly Initial Jobless Claims numbers on Thursday. Last week’s data was the lowest in a month.

In addition to those reports, European headlines will continue to dominate the news as the debt woes in that region plague the global economies. Also, the minutes from the Fed’s April meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee will be released and this could move the markets.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond that home loan rates are based on.

When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving — and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.

To go one step further — a red “candle” means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green “candle” means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.

As you can see in the chart below, Bonds and home loan rates reached record best levels last week. I’ll be monitoring the markets closely this week to see what happens next.

It may seem odd that negative economic news can actually be good for home loan rates, but there’s a pretty simple explanation for this phenomenon. Here’s a concise explanation you can share with your clients or you can use to gain a better understanding yourself.

First, we need to remember that big money managers who are in search of higher returns avoid holding onto cash by investing in both Stocks and Bonds.

Second, we need to dispel the myth about how home loan rates are determined. Despite what it may sound like in news stories covering the Federal Reserve’s meeting, home loan rates are based on the performance of mortgage-backed securities — which are a type of Bond.

When we put those two points together, we see that whenever the economy is on fire and there are good economic news reports, investors tend to put more money into Stocks. That’s because Stocks offer higher returns, even though they are generally more risky. To put money into Stocks, however, investors must remove some of their money from less-risky Bonds. The result is a decreased demand in Bonds that causes Bond prices to worsen, which causes home loan rates to go higher.

Inversely, when the economy is sluggish and economic reports are negative, money managers tend to take money out of higher-risk Stocks to put it into less-risky Bonds. As demand for Bonds increase, Bond pricing improves and home loan rates go down.

So while it may seem odd that home loan rates improve when economic news is sluggish, it actually makes sense when you look at the big picture.

If you have any questions about how the economic news is impacting home loan rates, please just call or email. I’m always happy to chat about what’s happening in the markets and what it means to home loan rates.

Economic Calendar for the Week of May 14 – May 18

View: If you’ve ever forgotten the name of an important colleague or client, have no fear. These tips can help.

The Jobs Report showed that 115,000 jobs were created in April, with 130,000 private sector jobs offsetting government job losses. This number was a disappointment and below expectations. The only silver lining in the report were upward revisions to the previous month’s readings which added 53,000 more jobs than what was previously reported.

The unemployment rate dropped a tick to 8.1% — the lowest since January 2009. However, the decline was mainly due to the labor force shrinking by 300,000, rather than by robust job growth. And as expected, we are starting to hear more and more about the Labor Force Participation Rate (LFPR). The LFPR dropped to 63.6, the lowest ratio since December 1981. Why is this important? The LFPR gives us a clear read of who is working and who is not. And if someone is not participating, then they are probably receiving some sort of social security or unemployment insurance. The bottom line is that it is tough to pay down debt when there are not enough people participating in the labor force.

Overall the Jobs Report was underwhelming and, unfortunately, further accommodative monetary policy or even more Bond buying (known as Quantitative Easing or QE3) will have a very limited effect on job growth. What’s more, the debt drama in Europe continues to escalate, as both Italy and Germany reported higher than expected unemployment rates, while Spain has slipped into its second recession since the financial crisis.

The events in Europe and potential softening of our economy have resulted in home loan rates remaining near historic lows. That means now continues to be a great time to purchase or refinance a home. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

• The first report won’t be released until Thursday with the weekly Initial Jobless Claimsreport. Last week, claims fell by 27,000, which was the largest weekly decline since May 2011.
• On Friday, inflation at the wholesale level will be released in the form of the Producer Price Index (PPI). Last week it was reported that the year-over-year Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) rose to 2%, the high end of the Fed’s range.
• The last report on Friday will be the first reading on Consumer Sentiment for May.

With so few economic reports this week, market players will be focusing in on the ongoing debt crisis in Europe, earnings reports and how the $66 Billion in Treasury Notes and Bonds will be received. All three of those news items could move Bonds and home loan rates this week.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond that home loan rates are based on.

When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving — and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.

To go one step further — a red “candle” means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green “candle” means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.

As you can see in the chart below, Bonds and home loan rates reached record best levels after last week’s Jobs Report. I’ll be monitoring the markets closely this week to see what happens next.

Unfortunately, many of us have trouble remembering the name of someone two minutes after we shake her hand. If that sounds like you, don’t worry… you’re not alone. It’s actually an extremely common occurrence for many people. The good news is there are a number of simple, practical steps you can take to improve your memory now and long into the future. Here are just two of the great tips for proactively strengthening your memory.

Tip #1: Neurobic Exercise

You know all about the wonderful effects aerobic exercise has on the heart, but have you heard of neurobic exercise for the brain?

According to Lawrence Katz, co-author of Keep Your Brain Alive: 83 Neurobic Exercises, the best exercise for the brain is to force it to form “new patterns of association” or new pathways. In other words, challenge your brain every day. Take it off autopilot and make it relearn or create new associations with the most routine activities of your day.

Katz’s book offers numerous examples of small changes you can make to activate your brain, including: brushing your teeth with the other hand; taking an alternative route to work; moving your wastebasket to the other side of your desk; closing your eyes while putting your key in and unlocking the front door; and changing where you and your family members sit at the dinner table.

So if you feel like your memory might be starting to slip a bit, try some of these simple neurobic exercises today!

Tip #2: Mnemonic Drilling

There are actually three steps or stages of memorization: acquisition, consolidation, and retrieval. That means, once we acquire new information, like someone’s name for instance, the way in which we consolidate that data will directly affect how well we’re able to retrieve it from memory.

Whether you’re a visual or auditory type of learner, there are many mnemonic devices that can help you to better organize or consolidate the new information that you need to recall.

Here’s an example of simple steps that might help:

First, associate the data you want to remember with common images. For instance, let’s say you meet someone named Jennifer Green. Imagine Jennifer playing golf, or picture her wearing all green clothes, or imagine her face painted completely green.

Second, think of associations you can use to help you remember this person. For instance, link Jennifer to the quality that best fits her personality (use alliteration and rhymes whenever possible): Jolly Jennifer Green.

Finally, connect sound to your memory by saying the name aloud.

Do this regularly and, before you know it, you’ll never forget anyone’s name again! And that can give you a nice advantage in networking and communicating with clients!

Economic Calendar for the Week of May 07 – May 11

After last week’s regularly scheduled meeting of the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke acknowledged that conditions in our economy are improving modestly, but he noted that the housing market remains depressed. One example of this is New Home Sales, which fell 7.1% in March to 328K units on an annual rate.

And there was a bit of a sluggish read on our economy last Friday, after the Fed’s mid-week meeting. The advanced (first of three readings) of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the 1st Quarter of 2012 came in at 2.2%, well below expectations. This was also well below the 3% final 4th Quarter 2011 GDP reading. Within the report it showed that the personal consumption expenditure inflation reading rose at the fastest pace since the 2nd Quarter of 2011. This is definitely something the Fed is watching closely.

As 2012 continues to unfold, inflation, the housing market, our sluggish economy, and our ever-growing debt are important issues that the Fed and our government need to address. Seeing the debt crisis in Europe escalate must put a sense of urgency on our government to reign in our annual budget deficit and overall debt. This mix of factors will continue to impact the direction in which Bonds and home loan rates move in the weeks ahead.

The good news is that now continues to be a great time to purchase or refinance a home, as home loan rates remain near historic lows. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

• Right off the bat on Monday the Personal Income and Spending data will be released along with the closely watched Core Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) report. The Core PCE is the Fed’s favorite gauge of inflation and comes after Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said last week that inflation in the short-term has been pressured higher by rising energy costs.
• In the manufacturing sector, the Chicago PMI will be released on Monday with the national ISM Indexdelivered on Tuesday.
• On Wednesday, the ADP Employment Report will be released ahead of the government’s monthly Non-farm Payrolls and the Unemployment Rateon Friday.
• Initial Weekly Jobless Claims will be released on Thursday. The recent couple weeks of elevated Jobless Claims is disturbing…and if it continues, rest assured QE3 chatter will re-emerge.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond that home loan rates are based on.

When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving — and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.

To go one step further — a red “candle” means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green “candle” means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.

As you can see in the chart below, Bonds and home loan rates continue to hover near record best levels. I’ll stay on top of this week’s news to monitor how Bonds and home loan rates are impacted.

What Does Cinco de Mayo Commemorate?

Many people believe that Cinco de Mayo is the day that recognizes Mexico’s independence from Spain. To set the record straight, that conquest happened on September 15th, 1810. Cinco de Mayo, on the other hand, celebrates an event that took place over 50 years later.

On May 5, 1862, the Mexican cavalry, under the command of Texas-born General Zaragosa, defeated the French at the battle at Puebla, a city 100 miles east of Mexico City.

The French army, having not suffered a defeat in nearly 50 years, landed in the port of Vera Cruz and headed toward the capital city with a specific mission. Fearless of any opponent, the French sought to overthrow the capitol and gain control of Mexico, even bringing along a Hapsburg prince to oversee the would-be empire.

Cinco de Mayo’s Connection to the United States

The goal of France’s leader, Emperor Napoleon III, was to gain proximity to the US in hopes of supplying the Confederate Army in their fight against the North. He had a vested interest in sustaining the division within America.

To America’s benefit, the undersized Mexican cavalry used their knowledge of the terrain to defeat the powerful French army. This victory enabled the northern states to build the greatest army in the world at that time.

Fourteen months later, the North soundly defeated the Confederate Army in the battle at Gettysburg, thus ending the civil war. Union troops were subsequently rushed to the Texas/Mexican border to help expel the French from Mexico.

For this reason, Cinco de Mayo is celebrated in both countries. More importantly, it’s a great occasion to honor freedom and liberty.

Economic Calendar for the Week of April 30 – May 04

On the good side, Retail Sales in March rose by a nice 0.8%, as consumers bought all kinds of products across the board. And when stripping out autos, sales still grew. This adds to the increasing trend seen in January and February and is a good sign for our economy, as consumers don’t spend when they aren’t feeling optimistic about their financial situation.

But over in the manufacturing sector it was not as pretty a picture, as both the Empire State Manufacturing Index and the Philly Fed Index came in below expectations. This is largely being attributed to a global slowdown, and experts say that the outlook for our manufacturing remains positive…but just not accelerating at the present time. Things weren’t as pretty in the housing sector either, as both Existing Home Sales and Housing Starts fell in March.

And things in the labor market were verging on ugly, as Initial Jobless Claims spiked sharply higher. The Labor Department reported 386,000 fresh Claims in the latest week, above the 375,000 that was expected…and well above the 350,000 range seen in recent weeks.

Also verging on ugly was news out of Europe. There is growing and very justified concern about Spain’s ability to pay down debt, meet new budget deficit targets, and avoid a bailout or debt restructuring. The Spanish situation has prompted the G-20 (Finance Ministers and Central Bankers of the 20 largest economies) to urge the European Central Bank to do more to contain their debt crisis as it threatens global growth. And let’s not forget that besides Spain, we still have France, Portugal, Ireland and Greece to deal with in future months and years.

So what does all of this mean for Bonds and home loan rates? There will likely be more safe haven trading into the relative safety of the US Dollar and US Bonds (which will benefit Mortgage Bonds, to which home loan rates are tied) as the uncertainty out of Europe escalates. And more bad economic reports here in the United States could add to this safe haven trading into our Bonds, just as more good economic news here would likely benefit Stocks at the expense of our Bonds and home loan rates.

This mix of factors will continue to impact the direction in which Bonds and home loan rates move in the weeks ahead. The takeaway is that home loan rates remain near historic lows and now continues to be a great time to purchase or refinance a home. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

• Consumer Confidence will be released on Tuesday…with Consumer Sentimentset to be delivered on Friday.
• Also on Tuesday, New Home Sales for March will be released, followed by Pending Home Salesfor March on Thursday.
• On Wednesday, Durable Orders- which are products that are supposed to last at least three years – will be released.
• Initial Weekly Jobless Claimswill be released on Thursday. The number of new claims has been steadily rising in the past month, which is not a good sign for the labor markets. So all eyes will once again be on this report.
• On Friday, the first reading on Gross Domestic Product (GDP)for the first quarter of 2012 will be announced.
• Also on Friday, we’ll see the Employment Cost Index, which measures the costs of hiring and paying the American workforce. Higher costs could lead to inflation pressures, which could push Bond prices lower and home loan rates higher.

In addition to those reports, this week’s FOMC meeting will be closely watched by both the Bond and Stock markets for any clues on how the U.S. economy is holding up.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond that home loan rates are based on.

When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving – and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.

To go one step further – a red “candle” means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green “candle” means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.

As you can see in the chart below, the mix of news last week benefitted Bonds and home loan rates. I’ll be watching closely to see what happens this week.

Heating Our Homes

• 57 million = Number of houses heated by utility gas.
• 2.2 million = Number of houses heated by wood.
• 38,010 = Number of houses heated by solar energy.

From Home to Work

• 25.3 minutes = Average time workers across the country spent getting from home to work.
• 31.8 minutes = Longest commute time in the nation, which belonged to Maryland residents.
• 16.1 minutes = Shortest commute time in the nation, which belonged to North Dakota residents.

Home Sweet Home

• 2,392 square feet = Average size of a single-family house built in 2010. That number was down a little from 2,438 square feet in 2009.
• 131.7 million = Number of housing units counted in the 2010 Census. Compare that to 37.2 million in the first housing census, which was conducted in 1940!

Bonus Fact!

The first housing census in 1940 featured 31 housing questions – including some we may find odd today, such as whether the house had a radio…toilets or an outhouse…electric lighting…and running water.

Conversely, the 2010 census only included two housing questions: (1) whether the home was owned or rented and (2) whether the respondent sometimes lived or stayed somewhere else. The number of housing questions in the census has dropped because we now ask a number of housing questions in the American Community Survey, which is sent to about 3 million households nationwide every year.

Over the years, housing has really changed. But regardless of the time or location, one thing remains the same…there’s no place like home!

Economic Calendar for the Week of April 23 – April 27

Forecast for the Week:A plethora of economic reports will hit the wires, with news on inflation, manufacturing, the state of the economy and more.

View: Thank you may be two small words, but they carry a large significance.

Every cloud has a silver lining. That popular idiom is one way to look at the headlines last week, both here in the U.S. and overseas. Read on for the details and what they may mean for home loan rates. There was good news on Friday as Consumer Sentiment rose to 75.3, which is the best level since February of 2011. However, this news was tempered by the rise in oil prices that we have been seeing. Theres a good side and a bad side to higher oil prices.

On the one hand, high oil prices are very detrimental for the fragile U.S. economy, as consumers have to put more of their discretionary dollars into their gas tanks…meaning they have less to spend elsewhere. High oil prices are also inflationary as the added shipping and material costs apply upward price pressures on Producer or Wholesale goods that either have to be absorbed by the producer, thus hurting profits and the ability to expand or hire. Or the added costs get passed onto to the consumer…a la a rise in consumer inflation.

The silver lining is that high oil prices could actually be good news for home loan rates, as the dampening effect on economic growth produces a sluggish economic environment in which Bonds (including Mortgage Bonds, to which home loan rates are tied) thrive. This is an important topic to continue watching in the weeks and months ahead.

In silver linings overseas, after seemingly endless negotiations, Greece, investors and central bankers came to an agreement to provide Greece with 130Billion Euros ($172 Billion) in financial aid. This will help the country fund itself through March and into the future… as long as it institutes economic reform, austerity measures and meets deficit targets. Any deal with Greece will be very tough to implement and a default could still occur…which makes this another important topic to keep close watch on.

Between some of this uncertainty from overseas being lifted, a lower unemployment rate, and better than expected economic reports, home loan rates havestruggled to improve beyond some of the best levels seen over the past two weeks. But yet another silver lining is that home loan rates remain near historic lows, and now continues to be a great time to purchase or refinance a home. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

• Pending Home Saleswill be released on Monday and could have a relatively modest impact on trading.
• Durable Orderswill be delivered on Tuesday. This report gives a look at consumer spending for products that are expected to last at least three years.
• Another important report will be Consumer Confidenceon Tuesday, as the American consumer is a very important player in the U.S. economy.
• In the manufacturing sector, the Chicago PMI and the ISM Index will be released on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.
• The all-important Gross Domestic Productreport comes on Wednesday and will give a detailed view on the overall picture of growth in the U.S.
• Weekly Initial Jobless Claims will be released on Thursday, and last week’s claims remained near four-year lows, signaling that the jobs market could be healing.
• Finally, the Core Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) report will be released on Thursday. This is the Fed’s favorite gauge of inflation.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result. The chart below shows Mortgage Backed Securities (MBS), which are the type of Bond that home loan rates are based on.

When you see these Bond prices moving higher, it means home loan rates are improving – and when they are moving lower, home loan rates are getting worse.

To go one step further – a red “candle” means that MBS worsened during the day, while a green “candle” means MBS improved during the day. Depending on how dramatic the changes were on any given day, this can cause rate changes throughout the day, as well as on the rate sheets we start with each morning.

As you can see in the chart below, roller coaster trading in the markets continues. I’ll continue to monitor this situation closely.

It’s hard to go through the day without hearing the words “thank you” or “thanks.” However, much of the time, people say those words quickly and without much meaning. Sure, a quick “thanks” is appropriate when someone holds a door for you or hands you something.

But when it comes to saying thank you to a client, partner, or friend for a more significant gesture, it’s important to go the extra mile. This is even more crucial in today’s business environment when success is so dependent on personal connections.

So how do demonstrate your appreciation? Here are 7 ways to say thank youto strengthen your relationshipsand to stand out in the mind of the person you’re thanking.

1. Classic and Classy. Mailing thank you notes has dwindled in today’s email business environment. That means you can really stand out and demonstrate your sincereappreciation by hand writing a brief thank you note and mailing it. Not sure what to write? No problem. Check out this simple advice for writing a thank you note.

2. A Little Surprise. Little surprises can be a fun way to thank a client, colleague, or friend. You may want to write a thank you note, but then slip it into a file that you hand the person. Or you could consider getting the person’s jacket for them when they get ready to leave a meetingand then slip the note into a pocket just before you hand it to him or her.

3. See You in the Papers. If you have a newsletter, social media page or blog, thank people publicly. A short “shout out” can go a long way.

4. Phone a Friend. There’s something about hearing a person’s voiceand it’s even better when they call just to say thank you rather than to ask for something.

5. Face-to-Face. Dropping by to say thank you goes a long way to demonstrating your sincerity and to strengthening your relationships.

6. Time Is On Your Side. People seem busier than ever. That’s why making time for someone means so much. One way to thank a person is simply to schedule some time for coffee or to chat. Then, turn off your cell phone and give him or her your undivided attention.

7. A Good Cause. Sometimes it’s not appropriate to give money or a gift. That’s ok. You may find that a unique and sincere gesture is to make a donation to a worthy cause that the person cares about. Then, let the person know about your donation as a way of saying thanks.

Economic Calendar for the Week of February 27 – March 02

About 13% of employers check credit reports for all candidates and 47% check for those applying to selected positions, according to the Society for Human Resource Management. Employers are usually most interested in the credit backgrounds of applicants who will handle finances, hold an executive-level position or have access to other employees’ confidential information (such as human-resources professionals). The black marks that might give an employer pause are ones that leave the deepest stains on your record: a loan default, a bankruptcy, a debt that’s gone to collection.

An employer must obtain your permission to pull your credit report. But declining is “like saying no to a Breathalyzer test,” says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for SmartCredit.com. “The consequences are sometimes worse than just getting it over with,” he says – namely, the employer could choose another applicant for the job if you are secretive.

Be honest and upfront about any problems. A potential boss may be sympathetic to the financial trauma that a layoff and long bout of unemployment have caused. And keep in mind that your credit record is only one piece of your profile. According to the SHRM, credit history ranked lowest among criteria employers used to vet candidates.

Reprinted with permission. All Contents ©2012 The Kiplinger Washington Editors. www.kiplinger.com.

Knowledge is power–and in this case–it’s knowledge that can save your life, or the life of someone you love! Here is some important information you should know about AEDs:

• AEDs are well marked and located in visible, high traffic areas like elevators, exits, fire extinguishers, restrooms or telephones.
• The American Red Cross and American Heart Association state that the AED should be placed such that a person could get the device and get back to a victim of sudden cardiac arrest within three minutes.
• The American Red Cross offers Heartsaver® CPR-AED classroom courses and eLearning courses.
• AEDs are a bit expensive; however they are an investment that can save a life. They can be purchased by visiting the Centers for Health and Public Safety website.
• AED rules and legislation varies by state, however under The Good Samaritan Law, limited immunity is offered “for individuals who render emergency treatment with a defibrillator. Specific protection varies by state.”

To learn more about AEDs, visit the Centers for Health and Public Safety website.

Heirlooms and antiques. You’d be surprised what an antique camera can add to a display of family photos. Or how an antique vase can set the tone for an entire room. These items are inexpensive to purchase at an antique store, but if you have a family heirloom with a story it’s even better.

Personal or seasonal touches. Remember, your family and your community are unique and should be celebrated. So, for example, if your family took a unique vacation to a sandy beach last year, you can fill a decorative jar with the sand and surround it with a photo or two. Or, you can simply bring natural elements–such as pinecones or autumn leaves–inside and place them in a large bowl or dish with photos or candles.

Warm the senses. Don’t forget to fill the air with a fresh fragrance that fits the mood you’re creating. Often, those fresh scents are the first things that visitors notice. So consider lighting scented candles, purchasing plug-in air fresheners with seasonal scents, or just baking homemade cookies before company arrives.

• New York ranks first on the list of the nation’s most populous cities.
• On average, it takes New York residents 38.7 minutes to get to work–and 55% of them take public transportation.
• Median home value of owner-occupied homes in Boston is $369,600.
• 44% of Boston residents 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher, according to data from 2010.
• According to data from 2010, the estimated population of Boston was 617,594.
• The median household income for Indianapolis, Indiana is $38,502.
• The median home value of owner-occupied homes in Indianapolis is $118,100.

View: Ever wondered what the world was really like when you were born? Theres a fun way to find out.

If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. Last week, that popular idiom could have applied to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) Report. Read on to learn why…and how all the week’s news impacted Bonds and home loan rates. The Advanced GDP reading – or first of three readings – for the 4th Quarter of 2011 came in at 2.8%, a bit below expectations of 3.2%. This number will be revised two more times, but if the final GDP remains at 2.8%…then the overall GDP for 2011 would be a scanty 1.57%. That is certainly a “Gross” Domestic Product, when you consider that the government has underwritten more than half of that economic growth with the Payroll Tax benefit.

Also in the news last week, the Fed’s Policy Statement after its regularly scheduled Federal Open Market Committee meeting was pretty much the same story as recent Statements, including stable long-term inflation expectations, a tepid economic recovery, and fragile job market. But there was one big exception to their norm. The Policy Statement said there will be “exceptionally low levels for the Federal Funds Rate at least through late 2014.” This is a huge change from the previous statements of “low rates until mid-2013.”

On the surface, extending the zero interest policy until 2015 tells us the Fed thinks the economy will just be slogging along, and accommodative monetary policy will be required to keep the economy growing at least at a modest pace. One could argue that recent economic data is better of late and that all this loose monetary policy is unnecessary. But the Fed has spoken, and as the old adage goes: “Don’t fight the Fed.”

In news out of Europe, yields in European Bonds have come downand by quite a bit. This sparked some optimism that Europe’s Long-term Refinance Operation (LTRO) has helped alleviate some pressure in the peripheral countries in the Eurozone, like Spain and Italy. So what’s the takeaway? In honor of the upcoming Super Bowl, here’s a football analogy: think of the LTRO as a super punt or “kick of the can” down the road. Europe needs to play a serious offensive line by creating a tighter fiscal union, implementing austerity measures, and developing growth strategies to help pay down the enormous debt.

The bottom line is that Bonds and home loan rates remain at historic best levels, which means now is still a great time to purchase or refinance a home. Let me know if I can answer any questions at all for you or your clients.

• The week kicks off Monday with the Core Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE), which is the Fed’s favored gauge of inflation. This report will be closely watched, since any hint of an uptick in inflation could push Bond prices lower and, in turn, move home loan rates higher.
• Manufacturing will also be in the spotlight with the Chicago PMI on Tuesday, followed by the ISM Indexon Wednesday.
• Consumer Confidencewill also be delivered on Tuesday.
• The ADP Private Employment Reportwill be released on Wednesday and comes before the government’s total job’s report on Friday.
• As usual, Initial Jobless Claimswill be released on Thursday. This week’s report comes after an uptick of 21,000 last week.
• Finally, on Friday the government’s monthly Employment Report will be released. The Employment Report consists of Non-farm Payrolls, the Unemployment Rate, Average Workweek and Hourly Earnings. This is an important report that can have a big impact on the markets. So I’ll be watching it closely.

Remember: Weak economic news normally causes money to flow out of Stocks and into Bonds, helping Bonds and home loan rates improve, while strong economic news normally has the opposite result.

As you can see in the chart below, Bonds and home loan rates remain near their historic bests. I’ll be watching closely to see which way they move next.

We’ve all seen websites that provide stats about what happened the year you were born. The website whathappenedinmybirthyear.com/ takes it a step further. It doesn’t just offer stats and facts. Instead, it provides a picture of the world you grew up in – including what it looked like and how it was different than the world we live in today.

But it’s more than just a fun website.

For one thing, it provides you with a light-hearted reason to connect with your clients on a personal level. You can share the site with them on social media or in one of your outreach pieces (such as a newsletter or email).

In addition, this site offers you a unique way to better understand your clients. If you know when a client was born, you can simply type in the year. In return, you’ll get a picture of that client’s social influences that have helped shape him or her. And that’s exactly the kind of information you need to put yourself in your clients’ shoes and understand them a little better. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that it’s entertaining too!

Try the site todayand consider sharing it with your clients as a way to connect with them on a more personal level.

Economic Calendar for the Week of January 30 – February 03