1. Day 23 of the government shutdown, and lawmakers aren't any closer to getting legislation passed that would fund the government and reopen it. Democrats are insistent that they want to open up talks on extending tax credits that are a part of the Affordable Care Act. But Republicans aren't willing to talk, until the government reopens. The shutdown is beginning to affect federal workers and military families whose paychecks are delayed. Air traffic controllers are also feeling the strain, according to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and says would-be controllers are having second thoughts.
2. New weekly data from Freddie Mac, the financial consultants, shows mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest level in over a year. Lower mortgage rates lifting affordability and sales of existing homes says the National Association of Realtors up by one and a half percent from a month ago. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate averages 6.19%, down from last week's 6.27%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year rate was 6.54%.