Plus, the presidential election’s most important state, and free trade and integration across Africa.
What’s happening with mortgage rates in America Recently, mortgage rates have reversed some of their increase since 2020, coming down from their late 2023 peak. Wendy Edelberg and Noadia Steinmetz-Silber explore what factors pushed up mortgage rates through 2023 and what has led to the partial reversal. The authors find that if these factors continue to unwind and long-term Treasury rates continue to decline, mortgage rates would also see further declines. | More research and commentary The U.S. presidential election’s most important state. “In 2024, all roads lead to Pennsylvania, the largest of the seven swing states. In all probability, the winner of the state will win the election.” William Galston looks at recent polls and key policy issues for the state’s residents. Free trade and integration across Africa’s nations. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to create one market across the 55 countries of the African Union, promising free movement of goods, services, investment, people, and cooperation. On the Foresight Africa podcast, Landry Signé, Francis Mangeni, and Andrew Mold discuss the status of AfCFTA. | About Brookings The Brookings Institution is a nonprofit organization based in Washington, D.C. Our mission is to conduct in-depth, nonpartisan research to improve policy and governance at local, national, and global levels. If you were forwarded this email, sign up for the Brookings Brief to stay updated on our latest work. | The conclusions and recommendations of any Brookings publication are solely those of its author(s), and do not reflect the views of the Institution, its management, or its other scholars. | |