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It was another losing week for the stock market as the major indexes fell for a third straight week. The main reason for the down markets is the continuing fears about the Federal Reserve and how many more rate hikes there will be.

For the week, the Dow Jones Industrial Average was down 3.0 percent, the S&P 500 fell 3.3 percent, and the Nasdaq lost 4.2 percent. The stock market averages remain negative for the year, with the Dow down 13.8 percent, the S&P 500 down 17.7 percent and the Nasdaq down 25.7 percent year-to-date.

Friday started higher in the morning but gave up all gains and ended in the red for the day. The Dow Jones Industrial Average erased a 370-point gain in the morning to close the day down 337.98 points or 1.1 percent. The other major market indexes also gave up their gains early in the day, with the S&P 500 losing 1.1 percent and the Nasdaq losing 1.3 percent for the day.

Before the opening bell on Friday, the Labor Department released the jobs report for August, showing a gain of 315,000 new jobs last month, which was in line with expectations that estimated a gain of 318,000 jobs. The unemployment rate ticked up to 3.7 percent from the previous 3.5 percent.

Some traders believe the job market is still too hot, which will keep the Federal Reserve from slowing down its interest rate hikes. Other economists believe this job report was a Goldilocks report, not too hot and not too cold.

The strong labor market has created 3.5 million jobs in 2022, despite being, by some definitions, in a recession. Other economists believe this jobs report all but confirm the Federal Reserve will raise rates another 0.75 percent at their next meeting in September but then slow the hikes over the remainder of the year.

There are four more consumer price index reports (CPI) left in the year, which will be carefully watched for signs that inflation is easing. Traders are looking for any signal that the Fed will slow its rate hikes or even reverse them.

There are signs that inflation has already peaked. Oil and commodity prices have come down from highs earlier this year, and last week the ISM manufacturing prices paid index fell to its lowest levels this year. The ISM manufacturing prices paid index is now in line with pre-pandemic figures.

Wage gains remain steady, and the housing market is starting to cool off. It could take months to see any meaningful signs that inflation moves decisively lower, especially in areas like rent, shelter, and the broader services sector.

New York Federal Reserve President John Williams said Tuesday that he expects the interest rate to stay higher and remain at higher levels until inflation is pushed back and that a restrictive policy is necessary for some time to come.

Williams did not actually say where he wants to see rates eventually but stated he believes reducing inflation is about reducing demand and that he wants to see positive real interest rates.

Real interest rates are the nominal rate minus inflation. Currently, the rate is in the range of 2.25-2.5 percent, which is far below the Fed’s preferred core personal consumption expenditures price index inflation gauge, which was at 4.6 percent in July. As you can see, that is about -2.1 percent real rate, and they want it to be positive.

Cleveland Federal Reserve President Loretta Mester has an even more hawkish attitude saying on Wednesday that she sees interest rates going above 4 percent in the coming months. The market is pricing in a 33 percent chance of rates going to 4 percent.

In August, 20 percent of home sellers dropped their asking price, compared to a year ago when it was at 11 percent. And homes sat on the market an average of five days longer than a year ago, the first annual increase in more than two years.

The supply of homes for sale is also rising, up 27 percent from a year ago. The increase in housing supply is easing some of the anxiety of those looking to buy a home. Mortgage rates on a 30-year fixed mortgage went above 6 percent on Friday to 6.02 percent.

The week ended with a thud on Friday, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average down 1,008.38 points or 3.03 percent. The S&P 500 closed down 141.06, or 3.37 percent points, and the Nasdaq tanked by 497.55 points, or 3.94 percent.

For the week, the Dow lost 4.2 percent, the S&P 500 was down 4.0 percent, and the Nasdaq gave up 4.4 percent. All major market indexes are still negative for the year. As we head into September and October, volatility is expected to increase, especially in a mid-term election year.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell talked Friday from their meeting at Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the market did not like what he had to say. He stated that the Fed will use every tool available to them to fight inflation, which continues at its highest pace in 40 years.

Chairman Powell also said that he expects the central bank to keep raising interest rates to fight inflation in a way that will cause some pain to the U.S. economy. So far this year, the Federal Reserve has increased rates by 2.25 percentage points. He added that this is no place to stop or pause.

At this time, the benchmark rate is most likely near an area that economists do not consider to either stimulate or restrict economic growth.

Powell said, “While higher interest rates, slower growth, and softer labor market conditions will bring down inflation, they will also bring some pain to households and businesses. These are the unfortunate costs of reducing inflation. But a failure to restore price stability would mean far greater pain.”

As for restrictive policy, Powell added the following comments:

• “We are moving our policy stance purposefully to a level that will be sufficiently restrictive to return inflation to 2 percent”
• “Restoring price stability will likely require maintaining a restrictive policy stance for some time, and the historical record cautions strongly against prematurely loosening policy.”

There are still signs that inflation has already peaked, mainly due to lower energy prices. Other than oil and gas prices, prices have not shown any signs of declining.

Certain areas of the economy are starting to show signs of slowing down. Housing is falling off quickly, and economists expect the big surge in job hiring over the past year and a half is likely to slow down.

The Fed states its focus is broader than just a month or two of data and will continue to fight inflation until it gets closer to its long-range goal of 2 percent.

Even though we’ve now had two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth, most economists agreed with Powell that the economy might be slowing, but it is still strong and resilient.

On Thursday, the government revised the second-quarter GDP report. The U.S. economy declined at a 0.6 percent annual rate, which is up from the initial GDP report of a decline of 0.9 percent.

The report still represents the second consecutive GDP decline, a figure widely believed to indicate a recession. But many economists do not think we are in a recession because of a strong labor market and consumer strength.

Consumer spending increased at an annual rate of 1.5 percent last quarter. Consumer spending accounts for almost 70 percent of economic activity in the U.S.

Inflation continues to be the main problem for the economy. Home construction dropped 16 percent. Home prices fell in July for the first time in three years, declining 0.77 percent from June.

That might seem like only a small decline, but it is the largest monthly decline since January 2011 and the second-worst July for the housing market since 1991. The worst July for housing was a decline of 0.9 percent in July 2010, during the Great Recession.

The housing market remains out of reach for many Americans as housing affordability is at its lowest level in 30 years. To qualify for a new home today, it requires 32.7 percent of the median household income to buy the average home with a 30-year mortgage and a 20 percent down payment. The 25-year average is 23.5 percent

The price for a home was 14.3 percent higher in July 2022 compared to prices in July 2021. Some markets are seeing large declines in home prices over the last few months, including the following cities:

• San Jose, CA: -10 percent
• Seattle, WA: – 7.7 percent
• San Francisco, CA: – 7.4 percent
• Los Angeles, CA: – 4.3 percent
• Denver, CO: – 4.2 percent

Mortgage rates climbed a little last week. According to Freddie Mac, the weekly mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage is 5.5 percent, which is up 0.42 for the week, and up 2.68 percent for the past year.