Arizona Real Estate Notebook

“Both economic indicators and mortgage rates came in mixed this week,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “While retail sales were stronger in September, consumer confidence fell below market expectations in October. Moreover, both the core consumer price index and producer prices for September remained contained.

“In his October 15th speech, Fed Chairman Bernanke suggested housing would be a ‘significant drag’ on the economy going into the next year. Indeed, inventories of unsold homes remained exceptionally high. And October’s homebuilder confidence fell to the lowest level since 1985, when record keeping began.”