There are many indicators to help us evaluate the U.S. economy, but international data are a little more limited. Which is why FRED is fortunate to have World Bank data to compare economic conditions across countries. Today, we look at how well banks are doing—according to their return on assets—all over the world. Measuring banks’ ROA is relatively simple: Aggregate the net income of all commercial banks in a country and divide this sum by their total assets.
The graph above shows three countries with contrasting fortunes. The most dramatic is Greece, whose banks have been struggling with bad debt. Then there’s Kenya, whose banks are doing surprisingly well, at least under this dimension. Finally, the United States is in the middle, with a noticeable dip during the financial crisis and lower returns since that crisis.
FRED has regional data that you can map using GeoFRED. And that’s exactly what we have
Category Archives: News
News about the U.S. real estate market and profession.
Homeowners’ Top Neighborhood Gripes
Choosing the wrong area to live in can make for a very unhappy homeowner. Find out the biggest location pet peeves.
Calif. Couple Fined $600K for Uprooting, Killing Ancient Tree
It may be your yard, but you can’t dig up history—according to one Sonoma County judge.
Where a $1K Monthly Mortgage Is Most Possible
The median cost for a home loan is up because of higher home prices. But you can still score a bargain in these areas.
NAR’s Popular Ad Campaign Gets Nod for 3 More Years
Association directors take actions on Code of Ethics, MLS, and other policies—and approve three more years of national advertising.
From the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, May 13-18, Washington, D.C.
Technology-Oriented REITs Enjoy Clear Growth Trajectory, Analysts Say
Technology-oriented REITs have a clear growth trajectory for the years ahead, fueled by secular changes in the economy that are impacting all aspects of daily life.
Portfolio managers Paul Curbo of Invesco and Evan Serton of Cohen & Steers discussed the impact of some of these changes with Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Lindsay Dutch during a May 16 webinar.
Mortgage Rates Moved Slightly Lower This Week
“While signals from the financial markets are flashing caution signs, the real economy remains on solid ground with steady job growth … which will drive up home sales this summer,” said Freddie Mac’s chief economist.
U.S. House Approves Equality Act to Extend LGBT Protections
Real estate groups, including NAR, applauded the House’s vote Friday to prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.
From the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, May 13-18, Washington, D.C.
Yun’s Economic Outlook: Who Could Ask for More?
NAR’s chief economist offers an upbeat assessment with only a few storm clouds, including uneasiness about the U.S. trade disputes with China.
From the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, May 13-18, Washington, D.C.
President Trump: Real Estate ‘Is in My Blood’
His hour-long speech was the first address to REALTORS® by a sitting president in 14 years.
From the REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo, May 13-18, Washington, D.C.
