After a pandemic and an ongoing war in Europe, there should be no surprise that Americans are still feeling a financial burden even now in 2023. We’re seeing high numbers in relation to evictions in Washington and across the country after nationwide COVID-19 protections ended.
We’ve also experienced a period of inflation caused by the pandemic and war in Ukraine that seems to be taking baby steps towards improving. While many tenants are looking for new apartments to rent, it hasn’t been easy for homeowners and potential homeowners either.
In February, it became evident that Americans are not ready to jump back into buying property just yet.
Mortgage demand has fallen to its lowest rate in 28 years, with the volume of applications for new mortgages dropping by a staggering 44% compared to the same week one year ago. Applications to refinance a home loan also fell 6% for the week, and were a whopping 74% lower year over year.
These numbers come from the Mortgage Bankers Association, as they also point out that the median interest rate for 30-year fixed-rate- mortgage contracts has risen to its highest rate since November 2022.
2022 was a year when Americans were hit hard with inflation. Utility costs soared along with other day-to-day products.
With homes being expensive to buy and maintain, many decided it wasn’t the time to purchase. However, we seem to be slowly getting out of the inflation according to numbers over the first months of the new year.
The Inflation Rate Has Lowered
In January of this year, Consumer inflation moderated slightly but remained higher than many economists had predicted. Rising prices for housing, gasoline, and natural gas were the main contributors to the increase.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is a broad basket of goods and services, rose at a 6.4% annual rate in January, which was slightly lower than December’s rate of 6.5%. However, the January figure was still higher than the expected rate of 6.2%.
In the United Kingdom, numbers have shown a similar slowdown in inflation. This is great news for a world economy that has been hit hard over the past 3 years.
Meaning homeowners across the pond have also been hiding in their shells and may be ready to get back on the market shortly.
The positive news is that in January was the third straight month that inflation lowered in the United Kingdom. This has raised hopes that further interest rate hikes could be put on hold. The rate dropped to a better-than-expected 10.1 percent last month, amid falling transport costs, indicating that the cost-of-living crisis has passed its peak.
Although prices are still rising, the rate of increase is slower than in December when the rate was 10.5 percent. The latest figure marks a further welcome decline from the peak of 11.1 percent seen last October, caused by soaring energy prices.
How Governments Fight Inflation
There are a few methods most governments will use to fight high inflation.
One approach is to control the money supply. The government can limit the amount of money in circulation, which can help reduce inflation. This can be done by increasing interest rates, which can make borrowing more expensive and reduce spending, or by selling government securities, which can take money out of circulation.
Another approach is to increase taxes or reduce government spending. By decreasing the amount of money that consumers and businesses have available to spend, demand for goods and services can be reduced, which can help curb inflation.
The government can also work to increase the supply of goods and services. This can be done by implementing policies that encourage businesses to invest and expand production, such as tax incentives or subsidies for research and development. By increasing the supply of goods and services, prices can be lowered, which can help reduce inflation.
The United States Joint Economic Committee has released a policy for fighting inflation, which includes reducing government spending, lowering the cost of production for firms, deregulation of energy and housing markets, as well as lowering tariffs on international supply.
While many Americans are still dealing with inflation and the cost of living crisis which has led to evictions, homelessness, high prices, and more, there are signs of things getting back to normal.
However, economists and Washington will need to keep a close eye on developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, as well as massive spending by the Chinese government, which could raise inflation rates and prices once again. President Joe Biden and his staff will need to be ready for a prolonged war and fluctuations in the East Asian market