Two significant articles from a national perspective

Article: U.S.families' debt loads decline to pre-recession levels

Overall, households today are paying less than 16% of after-tax income to cover debt payments and lease obligations, the smallest share since 1984, Federal Reserve data show.

Article: Existing homesales fall, but up 11% from last year

September existing-home sales fell slightly from the previous month, but remain well above year-ago levels as prices continue to escalate on new demand in key real estate markets.

September numbers are up 11% from the 4.28 million units sold a year ago.

**Articles both from LA Times