
‘Normal’ Unemployment: It’s Not What It Used to Be
The unemployment rate may be normal by the Fed’s definition, but the labor force has changed a lot.
Nela leads Redfin’s housing market research team on data reports that help Redfin customers make informed choices. She comes to Redfin from Bloomberg LP, where she served as a senior economist with Bloomberg Government. She also served in past roles in the mortgage industry, capital markets and financial policy.
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The unemployment rate may be normal by the Fed’s definition, but the labor force has changed a lot.

While low-paying jobs in hospitality and retail are easy to dismiss in terms of their significance to the housing market, they do in fact play a role.

Record-setting demand, more inventory, easier lending conditions and low interest rates are signaling that the housing market will be strong this year.
One consistent trend in housing is that prices fall every January. To get the industry’s earliest indication about January prices, today for the first time

Redfin’s expectations for the 2015 housing market are identified through these six housing personas that we think will characterize the market this year.

With gas prices low and consumer confidence at the highest reported level in seven years, there was a lot to be cheery about heading into the holiday home-buying season. However, positive consumer sentiment did not translate into more real estate transactions last month as the number of homes sold plunged 21 percent in November versus October and was down 5 percent from this time last year.

The unemployment rate may be normal by the Fed’s definition, but the labor force has changed a lot.

While low-paying jobs in hospitality and retail are easy to dismiss in terms of their significance to the housing market, they do in fact play a role.

Record-setting demand, more inventory, easier lending conditions and low interest rates are signaling that the housing market will be strong this year.
One consistent trend in housing is that prices fall every January. To get the industry’s earliest indication about January prices, today for the first time

Redfin’s expectations for the 2015 housing market are identified through these six housing personas that we think will characterize the market this year.

With gas prices low and consumer confidence at the highest reported level in seven years, there was a lot to be cheery about heading into the holiday home-buying season. However, positive consumer sentiment did not translate into more real estate transactions last month as the number of homes sold plunged 21 percent in November versus October and was down 5 percent from this time last year.