The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation indicator has come in showing that inflation is still running hotter than expected. This creates a difficult position for the Federal Reserve as it tries to balance interest rate cuts while managing inflation at the same time. Despite previous rate adjustments, inflation has remained stubbornly high.
It remains to be seen whether any monetary policy will be able to curb the recent trend as it stands. This was also accompanied by a 0.4% increase in personal income, which has been the status quo for some time now. Inflation outpacing wage growth has been a major concern on most consumers’ minds. Lastly, GDP has grown by an unexpected amount, showing that the economy still has room for growth for the foreseeable future.
GDP
The U.S. expanded at a subpar 1.4% annual pace in the fourth quarter of 2025, depressed by a long federal shutdown that caused government spending to plunge. Still, the economy grew at a solid 2.2% rate for all of 2025, a fifth straight year of above-average growth, the latest report on U.S. gross domestic product showed. GDP is the official scorecard for the economy.
PCE Index
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge showed that prices rose close to 3% in 2025, leaving the central bank with more work to do to get cost-of-living increases back down to prepandemic lows. The personal consumption expenditures index rose 0.4% in December, the government said Friday in a report delayed by federal shutdowns.
Primary Mortgage Market Survey Index
- 15-Year FRM rates saw a decrease of -0.09%, with the current rate at 5.35%
- 30-Year FRM rates saw a decrease of -0.08%, with the current rate at 6.01%
MND Rate Index
- 30-Year FHA rates saw an increase of 0.01%, with current rates at 5.63%
- 30-Year VA rates saw an increase of 0.01%, with current rates at 5.65%
Jobless Claims
Initial Claims were reported to be 206,000 compared to the expected claims of 223,000. The prior week landed at 229,000.
What’s Ahead
Unemployment data is set to be released next week, along with a slew of additional reports. This has become an increasingly important topic in recent weeks.