234 Quotes by Mark Zandi

This is a pay back for the aggressive discounts consumers were offered to buy cars during the summer.

It is hard to be enthusiastic about the economy's prospects when house prices are falling: Households spend less, small business owners can't use homes as collateral for loans and local governments are forced to cut jobs and programs as property-tax revenue disappears.

The economy is good, but it hasn't improved for everybody. The gains have predominantly gone to higher-income and higher net-worth households. Lower net-worth households are still struggling.

This issue is a global fault line that will get exposed if all the Asian nations don't allow their currencies to appreciate vis-a-vis the dollar.

Lenders look at potential borrowers from many angles before extending credit: How much of its income will a household need to put into debt repayment? How large is the down payment? Does the borrower have a job with a stable income? What is the borrower's credit score?

The economy is going to be hit hard by Katrina, and it is going to be hardest on consumers who are already stretched thin. With the surge in gasoline and home heating oil prices, consumers will have a difficult choice to make between filling their gas tank or spending on other things.

The unleashing of business pent-up demand will ensure that the U.S. economy's recovery will continue, but the unwinding of consumer spent-up demand will ensure that it won't come roaring back,

Potential home buyers have a two-step decision process. First, they determine whether they can afford to make a purchase - does their income safely cover their mortgage payment? Then they determine whether owning is a better financial choice than renting - are the costs of owning a home lower than the cost of renting it?

The economic data in the next couple of months will look pretty weak. There will be significant political pressure on the Fed not to tighten.