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Freddie Mac says buyer demand remains steady despite higher borrowing costs

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 6.71%, up from 6.66% last week.

• The 15-year fixed rate increased to 6.04%, while both rates remained higher than a year ago.

• Freddie Mac said purchase demand has remained relatively stable as buyers adjust to changing market conditions.

Mortgage rates moved higher again this week, increasing the cost of financing a home as the fall housing market gets underway.

The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 6.71% as of Sept. 3, according to Freddie Macs latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey. That was up five basis points from 6.66% last week.A year ago, the 30-year rate averaged 6.50%.

The average 15-year fixed mortgage rate increased to 6.04%, compared with 5.98% last week and 5.60% during the same week last year.

Purchase demand has remained relatively stable, indicating steady interest from buyers adapting to evolving market conditions, Freddie Mac said.

While this weeks increase was relatively small, even modest rate changes can affect monthly payments and the maximum price buyers can afford.

For example, a buyer borrowing $320,000 with a 30-year fixed mortgage would pay approximately $2,067 per month in principal and interest at 6.71%. At last weeks 6.66% rate, the payment would have been about $2,055 roughly $12 less per month.

Compared with last years 6.50% average, the current rate would add approximately $44 to the monthly payment, or more than $15,000 over 30 years if the loan were held for its entire term. Those figures exclude property taxes, homeowners insurance, and association fees.

Buyers are adapting, but affordability remains strained

Freddie Macs observation that purchase demand remains stable suggests some consumers are no longer waiting for a dramatic decline in rates. Buyers may instead be adjusting their budgets, considering smaller homes or negotiating with sellers for closing-cost assistance or temporary mortgage-rate buydowns.

In a separate report this week, real estate platform Realtor.com reported that lower priced homes are getting fewer views than more expensive homes, suggesting affluent buyers can still afford more expensive financing.

However, for the average buyers higher rates remain a significant obstacle when combined with elevated home prices, insurance premiums, and property taxes. A borrowers actual rate may also differ considerably from Freddie Macs national average based on credit score, down payment, loan type, location, and lender fees.

What to do

Consumers shopping for a home should request loan estimates from several lenders on the same day. Comparing both the interest rate and annual percentage rate, or APR, can reveal differences in points and other borrowing costs.

Buyers should also consider whether paying discount points makes financial sense. Buying points can reduce the mortgage rate, but it may take several years of lower payments to recover the upfront expense.

Current homeowners are unlikely to benefit from refinancing unless they have a mortgage rate significantly above todays levels or want to change their loan term. Refinancing also comes with closing costs, so homeowners should calculate how long it would take for the monthly savings to offset those expenses.

Freddie Macs survey reflects conventional, conforming home-purchase applications submitted by thousands of borrowers nationwide. It is a weekly average rather than a rate guaranteed to every applicant.

They cite national security, but a ban could also limit competition and consumer choice

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Major automakers are urging Congress to permanently ban Chinese connected vehicles, software and hardware from the U.S. market.

• The industry says government-subsidized Chinese vehicles threaten American manufacturing and could expose drivers personal and location data.

• A ban could protect U.S. auto jobs but also prevent consumers from gaining access to lower-priced Chinese electric vehicles.

Major automakers are asking Congress to permanently close the U.S. market to Chinese connected vehicles, arguing that allowing them into the country would threaten American jobs, domestic manufacturing and consumers personal information.

Its not a request they have made concerning other vehicles imported from Japan, Korea, or Europe.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, which represents General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Honda, Stellantis and other manufacturers, urged congressional leaders to pass a ban before the current session ends.

In a Sept. 3 letter, the group called for a permanent prohibition on the sale, importation and manufacture of Chinese connected vehicles, as well as restrictions on Chinese-made vehicle hardware and software.

Right now, Chinese automakers are dumping subsidized vehicles with connected software and hardware around the world, Alliance President and CEO John Bozzella wrote. The group said Chinese brands have already captured market share in Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, Mexico and South America.

Chinese automakers have not yet established a significant presence in the United States, partly because of tariffs and existing technology restrictions. The industry wants Congress to act before companies such as BYD, Chery and SAIC Motor can gain a foothold.

More than an economic argument

Automakers describe Chinese vehicles as both an economic and national security threat.

Modern vehicles may contain cellular connections, cameras, microphones, navigation systems and sensors capable of collecting information about drivers and their surroundings. U.S. officials have warned that technology supplied by companies under Chinese control could transmit sensitive information or potentially allow outsiders to interfere with vehicle systems.

A Commerce Department rule already restricts connected-vehicle technology linked to China and Russia. The legislation under consideration would put many of those protections into federal law, making them more difficult for a future administration to reverse.

The bipartisan Connected Vehicle Security Act of 2026 was approved by the Senate Commerce Committee in July. A similar bill has been introduced in the House. Another proposal, the Motor Vehicle Modernization Act, would prohibit companies linked to designated foreign adversaries from manufacturing, importing or selling vehicles in the United States.

The Alliance says the restrictions are necessary to protect an American auto industry that supports about 11 million jobs and contributes nearly $1.5 trillion annually to the economy, according to its letter to congressional leaders.

Proposed ban raises complications

Writing an effective ban may be more difficult than simply excluding vehicles shipped directly from China.

Some global automakers have Chinese investors, components or business partners. Mercedes-Benz, for example, has significant passive Chinese ownership. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz has warned that a proposal barring companies with more than 15% Chinese ownership could unintentionally prevent Mercedes-Benz from selling vehicles in the United States.

Polestar presents another complication. The electric-vehicle company is headquartered in Sweden but is majority-owned by Chinas Geely Holding. Polestar has said federal restrictions would prevent it from selling certain future models in the U.S.

Waymo also plans to use vehicles produced by Zeekr, another Geely-owned company, as platforms for its next generation of robotaxis. Although Waymo supplies its own autonomous-driving technology, a broadly written ban could disrupt that arrangement.

Those examples help explain why lawmakers are still debating how to distinguish a Chinese automaker from a multinational company that has Chinese investors, suppliers or manufacturing operations.

What it could mean for consumers

Consumers are unlikely to notice an immediate change because few Chinese-branded passenger vehicles are currently sold in the United States.

The longer-term impact could be more significant. Chinese manufacturers have developed electric vehicles that often cost much less than comparable models sold by U.S., European, Japanese and South Korean brands. Keeping those vehicles out of the country would reduce the possibility of aggressive price competition that could make EVs more affordable.

Supporters contend that low prices are possible because Chinese manufacturers receive extensive government support, making it difficult for companies operating under market conditions to compete. They also argue that slightly lower vehicle prices would not justify risks involving data privacy, cybersecurity and the loss of American manufacturing jobs.

The Alliance is not simply asking Congress to ban every car containing a Chinese-made part. Its request focuses on vehicles and connected technology associated with Chinese automakers or entities controlled or influenced by China. Exactly where Congress draws that line will determine whether the legislation affects only Chinese brands or reaches established automakers with Chinese investors and suppliers.

For now, the proposed ban remains unfinished legislation. But its bipartisan support suggests that Chinese automakers will continue to face formidable barriers to entering one of the worlds largest and most profitable vehicle markets.

Employers added 162,000 jobs while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.1%

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• U.S. employers added 162,000 jobs in August, far exceeding the average monthly gain of 31,000 over the previous year.

• Restaurants and bars added the most jobs, followed by local government education, while manufacturing and healthcare posted smaller gains.

• The information sector lost 23,000 jobs, with cuts affecting data processing, publishing, and broadcasting.

The U.S. labor market regained momentum in August as employers added 162,000 jobs and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.1%, according to the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) employment report.

The increase was a sharp improvement from the weak job growth reported during much of the past year. Employers had added an average of only 31,000 jobs per month during the previous 12 months.

However, the gains were concentrated in a relatively small number of industries. Restaurants, schools, and several parts of the manufacturing economy accounted for much of the hiring, while technology-related information businesses continued to cut workers.

Restaurants and schools lead hiring

Food services and drinking places added 59,000 jobs in August, the largest increase among the industries highlighted by the government. That was nearly five times the sectors average monthly gain of 12,000 during the previous year.

Local government education added another 42,000 jobs. The increase largely reversed a decline in July and may partly reflect the seasonal return of school employees. Despite the August gain, employment in local government education has shown little net change since January 2025.

Construction employment increased by 22,000, although the BLS said the overall monthly change was not statistically significant. Nonresidential specialty trade contractors added 8,000 jobs.

Manufacturing continued its recent recovery, adding 16,000 positions. Machinery manufacturers and fabricated metal product manufacturers each added 6,000 jobs. Factory employment has increased by 58,000 since reaching a recent low in December 2025.

Healthcare added 13,000 jobs. Home healthcare services gained 11,000 positions, while hospitals added 8,000. Those increases were partly offset by losses elsewhere in the industry.

Even with Augusts increase, healthcare hiring has slowed considerably. The sector added an average of 32,000 jobs per month during the previous 12 months.

Information sector posts steepest losses

The information industry was the reports clear weak spot, losing 23,000 jobs in August. That followed average monthly losses of 8,000 over the previous year.

Computing infrastructure providers, data processing companies, web hosting services, and related businesses eliminated 8,000 jobs. Publishing industries cut 7,000 positions, while broadcasters and content providers lost 5,000.

Employment changed little in most other major sectors, including retail, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, financial services, professional and business services, mining, social assistance, and other services.

Earlier estimates revised higher

The government also substantially upgraded its estimates for June and July.

Junes gain was revised from 20,000 to 31,000 jobs. Julys initially reported loss of 23,000 was revised to a gain of 21,000. Together, the revisions added 55,000 jobs to previous estimates.

The revisions mean the labor market was somewhat stronger entering August than the original reports suggested, although the pace of hiring remained modest.

Average hourly earnings for private-sector workers increased by 10 cents, or 0.3%, to $37.75 in August. Wages were 3.1% higher than a year earlier.

The average workweek edged up by 0.1 hour to 34.4 hours. The number of people working part time because they could not find full-time work or had their hours reduced fell by 414,000 to 4.4 million.

The severe mental condition is at the center of a trial that has gripped the nation

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Postpartum psychosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening condition affecting an estimated one or two mothers for every 1,000 births.

• Symptoms can develop rapidly and include hallucinations, delusions, severe confusion, paranoia, mania, and an inability to recognize that something is wrong.

• Most patients do not become violent and recover with treatment, but documented cases involving suicide and the deaths of children show why the condition requires immediate medical care.

The murder trial of Massachusetts mother Lindsay Clancy has focused new attention on postpartum psychosis, a rare psychiatric emergency that can cause a woman to lose contact with reality after giving birth.

Clancy does not deny killing her three children in January 2023. Her defense argues that she was experiencing postpartum psychosis and a command hallucination that left her unable to control her actions. Prosecutors contend that she was depressed but not psychotic and that her actions showed planning and an understanding of right and wrong.

The jury must decide whether Clancy was legally responsible for the deaths. But beyond the courtroom, the case raises broader questions about an illness that can emerge quickly, may be difficult for families to recognize and, in its most severe form, can endanger both mother and child.

How common is postpartum psychosis?

Postpartum psychosis is much less common than postpartum depression. Estimates generally place its occurrence at between one and two cases per 1,000 births, although the precise rate varies among studies.

By comparison, many new mothers experience the short-lived mood changes commonly called the baby blues, while postpartum depression is estimated to affect roughly one in eight mothers.

Postpartum psychosis is different. It represents a break with reality and is considered a medical emergency.

Symptoms most often begin suddenly during the first two weeks after childbirth, sometimes within hours or days. They can include:

• Hearing or seeing things that are not present

• Strong but false beliefs or suspicions

• Confusion and disorganized thinking

• Paranoia

• Extreme agitation or unusually elevated energy

• Rapid speech or racing thoughts

• Severe insomnia

• Abrupt shifts between mania and depression

A mother may believe that her baby is possessed, in danger, or receiving special messages. She may hear a voice giving her instructions. In some cases, the woman does not understand that she is ill, leaving family members to recognize the emergency and seek help.

The U.K.s National Health Service says the condition can worsen rapidly and create risks for both mother and baby.

Who is most at risk?

Postpartum psychosis appears to be closely associated with bipolar disorder. Women with bipolar disorder, a previous psychotic episode after childbirth or a family history of postpartum psychosis face a significantly higher risk.

However, it can also occur in women with no known psychiatric history.

Researchers believe that rapid hormonal changes after delivery, sleep deprivation, genetic vulnerability, and underlying mood disorders may contribute. The condition is not simply caused by ordinary parenting stress, and it is not a sign that a woman is a bad mother.

Having postpartum depression also does not necessarily mean a woman will develop psychosis. Depression generally does not cause a loss of contact with reality, although severe depression can sometimes include psychotic symptoms.

How often does it lead to violence?

Most women with postpartum psychosis do not harm themselves or their children. That distinction is important because sensational cases can discourage women from reporting symptoms or seeking treatment.

Nevertheless, medical literature has documented cases of suicide, attempted suicide and infanticide associated with the condition. Frequently cited estimates suggest that approximately 4% of untreated or severe cases may involve the death of an infant and about 5% may end in suicide. However, health researchers say those numbers should be treated cautiously because postpartum psychosis is rare and much of the available research comes from small studies and reviews of unusually severe cases.

A 2025 systematic review published in the Archives of Womens Mental Health examined documented cases in which postpartum psychosis resulted in infanticide. Researchers identified missed opportunities involving screening, diagnosis, treatment, and communication among healthcare providers.

Perhaps the best-known American case is that of Andrea Yates, who drowned her five children in Texas in 2001. Yates had a documented history of severe postpartum depression, psychosis, hospitalizations, and suicide attempts. Her original murder conviction was overturned, and a second jury found her not guilty by reason of insanity in 2006. She was committed to a state psychiatric hospital.

The Clancy case has drawn comparisons with Yates, although the medical histories, circumstances, and applicable state laws are different. In Clancys trial, the existence and timing of psychosis remain disputed by opposing medical experts.

Treatment can be highly effective

Postpartum psychosis usually requires immediate psychiatric evaluation and hospitalization. Treatment may include antipsychotic medication, mood stabilizers such as lithium and, in some severe or life-threatening cases, electroconvulsive therapy.

The outlook with treatment is generally good. The most severe symptoms may last several weeks, while complete recovery can take six months to a year or longer. Women who have experienced one episode face a substantial risk of recurrence following a future pregnancy, making advance planning with obstetric and psychiatric specialists important.

Warning signs should never be dismissed as exhaustion or normal adjustment to motherhood. A new mother who is hallucinating, expressing bizarre beliefs, behaving in a severely confused manner, or going for extended periods without sleep needs an urgent medical assessment, doctors stress.