HousingWire Daily Did Powell kill the December rate cut?
20 snips
Oct 30, 2025 
Logan Mohtashami, the lead housing analyst with expertise in mortgage rates and housing data trends, joins Sarah Wheeler to dissect the Fed's latest moves. They explore Powell's hawkish tone, questioning whether he impeded a potential December rate cut. Logan reveals the importance of the labor market's health for future policy easing and contrasts this year’s mortgage dynamics with last year's, suggesting limited risks of spikes. He also discusses how upcoming Fed chair candidates may shape monetary policy in the future.
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Powell Pushed Back On A December Cut
- Jerome Powell pushed back on the idea of a guaranteed December rate cut to emphasize labor-market strength.
- Logan says the Fed needs the labor market to 'break' before cutting rates materially.
Job Openings And Claims Are Fed Favorites
- The Fed repeatedly referenced job openings and jobless claims as key indicators.
- Logan highlights those two series as the Fed's favorite measures to show labor-market deterioration or resilience.
Powell Moved Yields Because Pricing Was Tight
- Powell's remarks pushed 10-year yields and mortgage rates higher from recent lows.
- Logan warns that much of the decline was already priced in, so it takes big news to push rates lower further.