We discussed long term interest rates last week, but it is too important to ignore given the critical juncture the Federal Reserve is at now. (FYI ... there are 4 important charts posted below today that show long term interest rates, median income, and employment. Please be sure to see them.)

We are talking about long term (30 year yields) interest rates and how they are on the edge of a major jump to the upside. Even though the Fed has not made much progress in the past month, they need to get their act together or they will lose the battle.

It is an important battle because if 30 year yields jump up, mortgage rates will jump with them. And we know that high mortgage rates and high loan rates would not be good for consumer spending or the economy.

Take a look at our 6+ year Weekly chart on the 30 year yields .... The oscillator is already starting to turn up and if the Fed can't stop it from rising now, the 30 year yields will rise another 5+ percent. If it goes to the red dotted fan resistance line, then the rise could be close to 7%.

Even a 7% rise would not end the 19 year Bear market on yields. To begin the basing process for a new upside Bull market on 30 year yields, the TYX would need to rise above 41.75 and trend higher from there. A housing question: If interest rates go up, does the number of houses sold go up or down?

There are 4 charts on this page, so please scroll down to view them all.

This chart shows the Bear market on the 30 year yields since 1993. For homeowners, it has been a good thing allowing many to buy homes that they otherwise couldn't afford. Housing question: If interest rates go back up, will home owners will find it more difficult to find buyers?

These next two charts are "food for thought" charts ....

This chart shows how Median household income is going out of phase with the GDP per capita that has risen during the past 20+ years. Housing question: How will this effect housing prices even if interest rates remained the same?

Last chart ... This chart by the St. Louis Federal Reserve shows their counts of the Civilian Employment-Population Ratio. This is simply the number in the labor force employed divided by the total population.

Note how the percent employed has dropped since 2000 and how it has remained low. Since people can only pay what they can afford, here is another housing question: What will happen to the long term prices of housing if this chart doesn't change?