Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac limit public housing data releases

"The survey gauges consumer sentiment on issues like home prices and mortgage rates. And it feeds into Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI), a widely used tool launched in 2010, which has historically been an indicator for home sales trends and housing starts activity. Freddie Mac has also scaled back its reporting. In February, the company discontinued its economic, housing and mortgage market outlook."

"Its last forecast, issued Jan. 24, 2025, noted that mortgage rates remained higher than expected in 2024 and suggested rates could stay elevated into 2025. While Fannie Mae continues to issue limited economic and housing forecasts, economists from Fannie's ESR Group have stopped providing commentary. The group's last public commentary in March warned of slower economic growth due to tariffs and weaker consumer spending, and it projected core inflation at 3.3% for 2025 and 2.2% for 2026."

"Inman disclosed that neither Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, nor their federal regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), responded to its requests for comment. Inman also said it remains unclear whether forecasts are still being conducted for internal use by Fannie or Freddie executives. The report said that analysts have expressed concern that reduced public reporting may limit their ability to track consumer sentiment and economic trends."

The survey measures consumer sentiment on home prices and mortgage rates and contributes to the Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI). Freddie Mac discontinued its economic, housing and mortgage market outlook in February after forecasting that mortgage rates stayed higher than expected in 2024 and could remain elevated into 2025. Fannie Mae continues limited economic and housing forecasts while economists from Fannie’s ESR Group stopped public commentary. The ESR Group warned of slower growth due to tariffs and weaker consumer spending and projected core inflation at 3.3% for 2025 and 2.2% for 2026. It remains unclear whether surveys and forecasts continue for internal use. Neither Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, nor the FHFA responded to requests for comment, and analysts worry reduced public reporting may hinder tracking of consumer sentiment and economic trends.

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