Chen Zhao

Chen Zhao is the head of economics research, where she produces research on the housing market for public and internal audiences.

Previously, she was an executive director leading housing finance and financial markets research at the JPMorgan Chase Institute. Prior to joining JPMCI, Chen was an economics consultant at Analysis Group, Inc., where she worked on financial litigation cases and led teams conducting health economics and outcomes research on behalf of pharmaceutical companies.

While in graduate school, Chen was with the Center for Economic Studies and the Social Economic and Housing Statistics Division at the US Census Bureau, where she conducted applied microeconomics research using large scale restricted-access linked survey-administrative data. She started her career at the White House Council of Economic Advisers, where she focused on labor and health economics.

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Most Recent

Redfin Economists’ Weekly Take: All Eyes on Inflation Data Ahead of Expected Fed Rate Cut

September 8, 2025

Last Week In A Nutshell Weak labor market data indicates that the economy is at risk of a recession, meaning the Fed needs to start

Mortgage Rates to Fall to the Lowest Level in Almost a Year on Today’s Weak Jobs Report

September 5, 2025

Today’s weak jobs report all but guarantees that the Fed will cut interest rates by 25 basis points at its September 17 meeting, and that’s

Redfin Economists’ Weekly Take: Room for Mortgage Rates to Edge Lower if Jobs and Inflation Data is Weak

August 25, 2025

Last Week In A Nutshell A quiet week was capped by a surprisingly dovish speech from Fed Chair Powell, who set the stage for the

Mortgage Rates Fall After Powell Signals September Cut in Jackson Hole Speech

August 22, 2025

Mortgage rates fell on Friday after Chair Powell used his annual Jackson Hole speech to set the stage for a rate cut at the Fed’s

Redfin Economists’ Weekly Take: Markets Bet on September Rate Cut Ahead of Powell’s Jackson Hole Speech

August 18, 2025

Last Week In A Nutshell Mortgage rates fell and markets got excited last week after a fairly benign CPI report drove expectations of rate cuts

September Rate Cut Likely After As-Expected July Inflation Report

August 12, 2025

Mortgage rates will stay flat today following an as-expected inflation report that keeps the Fed on track for a rate cut on September 17. Inflation