- Initial claims for unemployment insurance were unchanged in the June 7 week.
- Total beneficiaries rose by 54,000 in the May 31 week.
- The insured unemployment rate ticked up to 1.3%.
Introducing
Kathleen Stephansen, CBE
in:Our Authors
Kathleen Stephansen is a Senior Economist for Haver Analytics and an Independent Trustee for the EQAT/VIP/1290 Trust Funds, encompassing the US mutual funds sponsored by the Equitable Life Insurance Company. She is a former Chief Economist of Huawei Technologies USA, Senior Economic Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group, Chief Economist of the American International Group (AIG) and AIG Asset Management’s Senior Strategist and Global Head of Sovereign Research. Prior to joining AIG in 2010, Kathleen held various positions as Chief Economist or Head of Global Research at Aladdin Capital Holdings, Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin and Jenrette Securities Corporation.
Kathleen serves on the boards of the Global Interdependence Center (GIC), as Vice-Chair of the GIC College of Central Bankers, is the Treasurer for Economists for Peace and Security (EPS) and is a former board member of the National Association of Business Economics (NABE). She is a member of Chatham House and the Economic Club of New York. She holds an undergraduate degree in economics from the Universite Catholique de Louvain and graduate degrees in economics from the University of New Hampshire (MA) and the London School of Economics (PhD abd).
Publications by Kathleen Stephansen, CBE
USA| Jun 12 2025U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Were Steady in Latest Week
USA| Jun 04 2025U.S. Mortgage Applications Fall in the Last Week of May
- Purchase applications and loan refinancing decline.
- Effective interest rates are range-bound.
- Average loan size falls.
USA| May 29 2025U.S. Initial Jobless Claims Rise in Latest Week
- Initial claims for unemployment insurance rose 14,000 in the May 24 week.
- Total beneficiaries rose by 26,000 in the May 17 week to the highest level since November 13, 2021.
- The insured unemployment rate ticked up to 1.3%.
USA| May 07 2025U.S. Consumer Credit Rebounded in March
- Consumer credit rises close to expectations.
- Nonrevolving and revolving credit rise.
USA| Apr 30 2025U.S. ADP Payrolls Rise Modestly in April
- Employment increase is modest in both services & factory sectors.
- Wage growth for “job stayers” moderates.
- Small and medium-sized business employment slows.
USA| Apr 30 2025Mortgage Applications Continue to Fall in Latest Week
- Refinancing and purchase loan applications decline.
- Effective interest rates are range-bound.
- Average loan size falls
USA| Apr 16 2025Mortgage Applications Drop as Rates Surge in Latest Week
- Purchase loan applications decline and refinanced loans tumble.
- Effective rates on loans post double-digit rises.
- Average loan size drops.
USA| Apr 02 2025Mortgage Applications Fell in Latest Week
- Applications for loans to purchase rose, while applications for loans to refinance declined.
- Fixed mortgage rates are range-bound.
- Decline in average loan size continues for the third consecutive week.
USA| Mar 26 2025Mortgage Applications Fell in Latest Week
- Applications for loans to purchase edge up, applications for loans to refinance decline.
- Fixed mortgage rates are range-bound.
- Decline in average loan size continues for the second consecutive week.
USA| Mar 05 2025Mortgage Applications Jumped in the February 28 Week
- Applications for loans to purchase and refinance rose sharply in the latest week.
- Effective interest rates on all mortgage loans fell in the latest week.
- Average loan sizes rose for both loans to purchase and to refinance.
USA| Feb 26 2025Mortgage Applications Declined in the February 21 Week
- Applications for loans to purchase edged up while those to refinance fell.
- Effective interest rates on all mortgage loans fell in the latest week.
- Average loan sizes rose for both loans to purchase and to refinance.
- Initial claims hold in a tight range.
- Total beneficiaries rose slightly in the February 8 week.
- Insured unemployment rate remains at 1.2%.
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