‘Squatter Rent' May Boost Spending as U.S. Mortgage Holders Bail

``So-called "squatter's rent," or the increase to income from withheld mortgage payments, will be an estimated $50 billion this year, according to Michael Feroli, chief U.S. economist at JPMorgan Chase & Co. in New York. The extra cash could represent a boost to spending that's equal to about half the estimated savings generated by cuts to payroll withholding in December's bipartisan tax plan. '' -- We're not sure how this is a "stimulus" if it just lets people stay afloat and pay off credit card bills in lieu of the mortgage... but it is a factor.