“Numerology” tries to find reality within various measurements of economic and real estate trends. Buzz: Mortgage rates today would be at 8.9% if they were priced according to this century’s typical spread above the inflation rate. Source: My trusty spreadsheet reviewed the relationship between the monthly average 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage (by Freddie Mac) and the inflation rate (12-month change in […]

Send questions about the office, money, careers and work-life balance to [email protected]. Include your name and location, or a request to remain anonymous. Letters may be edited. Scent Matters I work in a small office at a start-up. Some of my colleagues used to be in extremely senior positions at major companies. I’m in my late 20s and have done […]

The unusual back and forth between President Biden and Republican lawmakers on live television during last week’s State of the Union address kicked off a high-stakes political debate about repairing Social Security and Medicare. The noisy exchange — provoked by Mr. Biden’s charge that some Republicans want to “sunset” Medicare and Social Security — may have left viewers wondering where […]

“Tanking” perfectly describes the earliest months of 2023’s homebuying season. Homebuyer confidence is the lowest I’ve ever experienced in my 35-year mortgage originator career. The current market makes the Great Recession sales days seem like a stampede. Few want to buy right now. Only the most motivated are pulling the trigger. On Feb. 15 the purchase index plunged 43% lower […]

EXCLUSIVE: Peter Morgan — the Academy Award-nominated producer of American Sniper formerly serving as a production exec at Katalyst Films and Gilbert Films — has announced the launch of TantrumPM, a development and production company that will look to produce uniquely accessible and important, A-list driven content. TantrumPM is currently developing a dozen or so projects, including a reboot of the […]

Starz said today it’s partnered with Amazon to bundle with MGM+ on Prime Video in the U.S. This subscription bundle, Starz’ first, will launch in the coming weeks for $11.99 a month — a 20% discount to the combined price of both standalone subscriptions. It said the bundle arrangement is part of a new long-term deal between Starz and Amazon. […]

Actors’ Equity Association is looking to change its name to be more reflective of its entire membership. Founded in 1913, the 51,000-member union represents not only actors and stage managers who work in live theater but recently has organized strip club dancers, planetarium lecturers and others who work in live arts and entertainment. The union said today that it is […]

A report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday showed new residential construction in the U.S. tumbled by much more than expected in the month of January. The Commerce Department said housing starts dove by 4.5 percent to an annual rate of 1.309 million in January after plunging by 3.4 percent to a revised rate of 1.371 million in December. […]

Massachusetts Institute of Technology tops Forbes 2023 list of America’s Best Large Employers. Texas Healthcare group Houston Methodist and medical practice and research group Mayo Clinic are in the second and third positions respectively. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, regional supermarket chain H-E-B, University of Kentucky, mutual fund company Fidelity Investments, IT giant Microsoft, hotels and restaurants group In-N-Out Burger and […]