New production by retail loan offices and mortgage brokers is actually running slightly ahead of the pace set during the first half of 2004, although overall mortgage originations are down, according to a new market analysis and ranking by Inside Mortgage Finance. An estimated $594.0 billion of new loans were generated through retail production channels, including traditional branch offices as well as consumer-direct originations. That was essentially unchanged from the estimated $593.4 billion originated through… [Three data tables included]