CRESTICO - Quick Market Insights - 04-18-2025
In this brief market‑update, the narrator reports that U.S. builder sentiment remained negative throughout April, driven by worries about tariffs and high material costs despite a modest lift from lower mortgage rates. Weekly purchase mortgage applications fell 5% year‑over‑week but were still 13% higher than the same week a year earlier, and a growing share of borrowers shifted to adjustable‑rate mortgages after a sudden jump in interest rates. Retail sales posted their biggest increase in over two years as consumers rushed to purchase before anticipated tariffs. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that tariffs could embed higher inflation, making near‑term rate cuts unlikely. Meanwhile, initial jobless claims dropped to a two‑month low, suggesting firms are not resorting to large‑scale layoffs despite tariff pressures. The segment ends with a social‑media style call‑to‑action encouraging likes, tags, and contact through the publisher’s website.
