- New claims declined by 10,000 to 196,000 in the week of September 12.
- Continuing claims dropped by 39,000 to 1.730 million in the week ending September 5.
- The insured unemployment rate inched down to 1.1% in the week of September 5, the first drop since April 25.
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| Sep 16 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined in the September 11 Week
- Applications for loans to purchase a house and applications for loan refinancing both declined in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans rose 13bp to 7.18%.
- Average loan size fell moderately in the September 11 week.
- New claims edged down by 1,000 to 206,000 in the week of September 5.
- Continuing claims inched down by 1,000 to 1.774 million in the week ending August 29.
- The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.2% in the week of August 29.
USA| Sep 09 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Declined in the September 4 Week
- Both applications for loans to purchase and applications for loan refinancing declined in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans rose to 7.05%.
- Average loan size rose in the September 4 week.
- New claims rose by 2,000 to 206,000 in the week of August 29.
- Continuing claims rose by 8,000 to 1.779 million in the week ending August 22.
- The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.2% in the week of August 22.
USA| Sep 02 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose in the August 28 Week
- Applications for loans to purchase rose and applications for loan refinancing declined in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans edged up 1bp to 6.98%.
- Average loan size fell moderately in the August 28 week.
- New claims declined by 4,000 to 203,000 in the week of August 22.
- Continuing claims declined by 18,000 to 1.778 million in the week ending August 15.
- The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.2% in the week of August 15.
USA| Aug 26 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Fell in the August 21 Week
- Both applications for loans to purchase and for loan refinancing declined in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans edged up 1bp to 6.97%.
- Average loan size inched up in the August 21 week.
- New claims declined by 6,000 to 206,000 in the week of August 15.
- Continuing claims rose by 18,000 to 1.799 million in the week ending August 8.
- The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.2% in the week of August 8.
USA| Aug 19 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Edged Down in the August 14 Week
- Applications for loans to purchase declined, while applications for loan refinancing rose in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans was unchanged at 6.96%.
- Average loan size declined.
- New claims rose by 9,000 to 209,000 in the week of August 8.
- Continuing claims declined by 22,000 to 1.777 million in the week ending August 1.
- The insured unemployment rate was unchanged at 1.2% in the week of August 1.
USA| Aug 12 2026U.S. Mortgage Applications Rose in the August 7 Week
- Both applications for loans to purchase and applications for loan refinancing rose in the latest week.
- Interest rate on 30-year fixed-rate loans edged down 3bps to 6.96%, still at levels not seen since July/August 2025.
- Average loan size edged down.
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