Our Scans · (FS.6.06) Personal Finance · Weekly Summary

• [New] Fannie Mae forecasts mortgage rates will decline to 5.9% by year-end 2026, from 6.4% at the close of 2025. Passle
• [New] Mortgage rates surged to a 23-year high in 2023, cooled modestly in 2024 and 2025, and are now expected to remain relatively stable throughout 2026. Josh Mettle
• [New] The United States is in a retirement crisis, while 41% believe retirement will be possible for the typical American in 25 years. Starwest Mortgage Corporation
• [New] Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation projected real GDP growth of just 0.7% in 2026, one of the weakest non-recession years in recent decades, as trade tensions, slower population growth and softer labour markets weigh on demand. Mortgage Professional
• [New] Substantial load growth coupled with the retirement of firm power capacity could increase the risk of power outages by 100 times by 2030. POWER Magazine
• [New] In Japan, investors will assess December wage data, with nominal pay growth forecast to accelerate to 3% from 0.5%. Trading Economics
• [New] 40% of adults worry they will not have enough money to last through retirement. CNBC
• [New] The Bank of England is widely expected to hold interest rates at 3.75%, with inflation still well above target and wage growth remaining sticky. CPA | The Credit Protection Association
• [New] Just under 24% of investors expect mortgage rates to continue to rise in 2026, down slightly from last quarter's 27%. Cision PR Newswire
• [New] Building costs are expected to rise a further 15% over the next five years, with labour costs climbing 18% by 2030 - driven by National Insurance increases and wage pressures. Insurance Business
• [New] Around 44% of employers plan to roll out uniform, across-the-board wage bumps in 2026. Fortune
• [New] The Federal Reserve's rate decisions, inflation data, and broader economic conditions will play a key role in shaping mortgage rate trends. Ainvest
• [New] We expect to see a notable uptick in average hourly earnings (+0.5% m/m) as 19 US states hiked their minimum wage in January. RBC Economics
• [New] As of early 2026, US citizens can expect mortgage interest rates in Chile to fall roughly in the range of 3.5% to 5.5% annually, typically for loans denominated in UF (Chile's inflation-adjusted unit). TheLatinvestor
• [New] Chile's accelerated coal retirement timeline represents one of the most ambitious fossil fuel phase-outs globally, with 70% of coal capacity scheduled for retirement by 2026 and complete elimination by 2035. Discovery Alert
• [New] Almost three million Australians are expected to become eligible to access their superannuation over the next decade, with more than $750 billion projected to move from accumulation into retirement, increasing operational demands on trustees and administrators. Insurance Business
• [New] While many of 2026's Social Security adjustments provide welcome increases in benefits and updated earnings limits, one adjustment stands out because it will reduce take-home pay for higher wage earners: the Social Security wage base limit is rising. Economic Times
• Mortgage rates have come down nearly a full point from their peak and are expected to hover in the low 6% range throughout 2026. OrianaShea.com
• In 2025, affordability reached its best level in nearly three years, and experts expect that trend to continue into 2026-driven by stabilizing mortgage rates, improving inventory, and slower price growth. OrianaShea.com
• Mortgage rates will average around 6.3% across 2026. Yahoo Finance
• For mortgage rates, prolonged inflation and tighter monetary policy from the Fed would deliver upward pressure, likely keeping rates above 6% for 2027. Yahoo Finance

Last updated: 16 February 2026