We'll have whatever Timmy is drinking. Even as Mr. Geithner, in prepared congressional testimony, claims that the economy is "recovering", the MBA announced yet another record number of mortgage delinquencies. At over 14%, the number of American homeowners either in delinquency or in foreclosure was an all-time record in September, representing a ninth straight quarterly increase. According to the AP: "The Mortgage Bankers Association's quarterly report adds to fears that the housing market's recovery could be thwarted by the continuing surge in home loan defaults, especially as the unemployment rate keeps rising. Lost jobs, rather than the shady loans made during the housing boom, are now the main reason homeowners fall into default." Our hope is that maybe Mr. Geithner will also testify also as to what particular brand of Kool-Aid he drinks when he makes such baseless and irresponsible statements.

The biggest looming threat - heretofore considered safe Prime loans: "Prime fixed-rate loans continue to represent the largest share of foreclosures started and the biggest driver of the increase in foreclosures. 33 percent of foreclosures started in the third quarter were on prime fixed-rate and loans and those loans were 44 percent of the quarterly increase in foreclosures. The foreclosure numbers for prime fixed-rate loans will get worse because those loans represented 54 percent of the quarterly increase in loans 90 days or more past due but not yet in foreclosure."

The full MBA report below:

Delinquencies Continue to Climb in Latest MBA National Delinquency Survey