{"id":595619,"date":"2026-02-17T18:15:53","date_gmt":"2026-02-17T18:15:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/drewdodds.vipmtginc.com\/blog\/?p=595619"},"modified":"2026-02-17T18:15:54","modified_gmt":"2026-02-17T18:15:54","slug":"weekly-mortgage-market-update-february-cooling-inflation-lower-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/drewdodds.vipmtginc.com\/blog\/2026\/02\/17\/weekly-mortgage-market-update-february-cooling-inflation-lower-rates\/","title":{"rendered":"Weekly Mortgage Market Update"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"473\" src=\"https:\/\/drewdodds.vipmtginc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/House-with-Graph-Image-1024x473.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-595621\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2.1649541206816356;width:483px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/drewdodds.vipmtginc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/House-with-Graph-Image-1024x473.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/drewdodds.vipmtginc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/House-with-Graph-Image-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/drewdodds.vipmtginc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/House-with-Graph-Image-768x354.jpg 768w, https:\/\/drewdodds.vipmtginc.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/House-with-Graph-Image.jpg 1404w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Lower Rates, Softer Inflation, and Mixed Economic Signals<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each week we provide a high-level view of mortgage rate activity and the economic data influencing the housing market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Rate change since Monday, Feb 9:<\/strong><br>\u27a1\ufe0f 30-year fixed mortgage rates improved slightly \u2014 about <strong>0.125% lower week-over-week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While that\u2019s encouraging for buyers, the reason behind it matters. The latest data shows an economy sending mixed signals: strong on the surface, but softer underneath.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Labor Market: Strong Headlines, Weak Details<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">January\u2019s jobs report looked impressive at first glance \u2014 but the deeper data tells a different story.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What looked strong<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>130,000 jobs added<\/strong> (vs 55,000 expected)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unemployment rate dipped to <strong>4.3%<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What actually matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>ADP private payrolls: only <strong>+22,000<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Revelio data: <strong>\u201313,300 jobs<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Job openings fell to <strong>6.54 million<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>January job cuts: highest level since <strong>2009<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Hiring announcements: lowest in <strong>17 years<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prior months revised down by <strong>17,000<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>2025 job growth revised down to just <strong>181,000 total (\u224815k\/month)<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps most important:<br>Before seasonal adjustments, payrolls actually <strong>fell by 2.65 million<\/strong> \u2014 adjustments turned that decline into a reported gain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Takeaway:<\/strong> The labor market is cooling more than the headline suggests \u2014 and cooling labor markets tend to help mortgage rates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Inflation Update: Moving in the Right Direction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inflation continues to gradually ease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>CPI rose <strong>0.2% in January<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Annual inflation dropped to <strong>2.4% (8-month low)<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Core inflation: <strong>2.5% year-over-year<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Shelter costs remain the largest contributor, though January\u2019s increase was modest. Airline fares were one of the few categories that jumped sharply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Federal Reserve held rates steady after three cuts late last year and remains cautious \u2014 balancing improving inflation against economic weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Takeaway:<\/strong> Inflation is improving, but not enough yet for the Fed to declare victory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Housing Market: Sales Down, Affordability Improving<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Housing activity slowed, but not for negative reasons alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Existing home sales fell <strong>8.4% month-over-month<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Down <strong>4.4% year-over-year<\/strong> (NAR)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Inventory: <strong>1.22M homes<\/strong> (still higher than last year)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Affordability: best level since <strong>March 2022<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Weather likely played a role in weaker sales in many parts of the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Takeaway:<\/strong> Demand is still there \u2014 buyers are just sensitive to rates and conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Consumer Spending &amp; Jobless Claims<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consumer behavior is showing caution:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Retail sales: <strong>flat<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most spending categories declined<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Initial jobless claims: <strong>227,000<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Continuing claims rising to <strong>1.862M<\/strong> (longer job searches)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Takeaway:<\/strong> Consumers are slowing spending \u2014 another signal the economy is cooling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What It Means for Mortgage Rates<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Markets currently see:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cooling labor market \u2714\ufe0f<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improving inflation \u2714\ufe0f<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Slowing spending \u2714\ufe0f<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All three tend to push mortgage rates lower \u2014 which explains last week\u2019s improvement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the Fed still sees inflation as \u201csticky,\u201d so major rate drops will likely depend on continued economic softening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Looking Ahead<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Several delayed reports release this week and could move markets significantly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Fourth-quarter GDP<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>December PCE inflation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Federal Reserve meeting minutes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Multiple housing indicators<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These reports will shape expectations for future rate cuts and mortgage trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bottom line:<\/strong><br>The economy isn\u2019t collapsing \u2014 but it is clearly slowing. That environment historically supports gradually improving mortgage rates, even if volatility continues week to week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019ll continue monitoring the data and keeping you updated.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lower Rates, Softer Inflation, and Mixed Economic Signals Each week we provide a high-level view of mortgage rate activity and the economic data influencing the housing market. Rate change since Monday, Feb 9:\u27a1\ufe0f 30-year fixed mortgage rates improved slightly \u2014 about 0.125% lower week-over-week While that\u2019s encouraging for buyers, the reason behind it matters. The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":595621,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-595619","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsletter"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Weekly Mortgage Market Update - Drew Dodds<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Mortgage rates improved as inflation cooled and labor market data showed underlying weakness. 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