The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met this week and voted unanimously to hold rates steady for the sixth consecutive meeting, leaving its policy range at 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent. Futures markets had this expectation confidently priced in since mid-February, so the official decision comes as no surprise. This view is in stark contrast to market expectations at the start of 2024, when a second rate cut was fully priced in for this point in time. Yet even the first rate cut still eludes us.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met this week and voted unanimously to hold rates steady for the fifth consecutive meeting, leaving its policy range at 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent. This came as no surprise, with futures markets indicating a near-zero percent chance of a rate cut in the days and weeks leading up to the decision.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met this week and voted unanimously to hold rates steady for the fourth consecutive meeting, leaving its policy range at 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent. This outcome was confidently priced into futures markets leading up to the meeting, so the committee’s decision comes as no surprise.

This week, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met and voted unanimously to hold rates steady for the third consecutive meeting, leaving its policy range at 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent. This decision comes as no surprise, with the futures markets indicating a near-zero percent chance of a rate increase in the days and weeks leading up to the meeting.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) met this week and voted unanimously to hold rates steady for the second consecutive meeting. This leaves its policy range at 5.25 percent to 5.5 percent. After a historic run where the committee increased that range by 5.25 percent over the course of 11 meetings, no change can certainly feel like a change. So, what are the driving forces behind the continued pause? Let’s look at some of the details the FOMC is keeping its eyes on, as well as what we should be paying attention to moving forward.

Being a “forever renter” is an idea many millennials (myself included) have been grappling with in recent years. Buying a home, once considered a milestone on the adulting journey, feels more out of reach than ever for some of us. I know I’m not alone in this feeling, as there are plenty of would-be homebuyers to share in my woes. So, let’s take a look at some of the barriers to homeownership now and whether there is reason to believe circumstances may change in the future or if some of us will be tenants for eternity.

Brad here. One of the things we try to do at Commonwealth is look beyond the numbers. Yes, the numbers are what they are—but what do they mean? Here is my colleague Joe Dunn’s take on one of the biggest numbers, gross domestic product, and why it is so important to look deeper. Take it away, Joe!