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Oil fell to $56 per barrel today.  Lower prices should reduce winter heating bills and gas pump receipts for Americans.

Money saved is money spent in this country so, if the price of crude continues to drop, we can expect the economy stay juiced with consumer dollars.  Throw in a refuse-to-die housing market and we could have the makings for Fed Fund Rate hike in 2007.

With only one major economic report this week -- Friday's Retail Sales report -- expect Fed speakers and geopolitics to keep markets guessing.  The recent trend has been for rates to move higher and traders will ride the trend in the absence of convincing data.

Dan Green is an active loan officer. Email or call 513-443-2020. Dan is on Twitter at @mortgagereports.