The Fox News Rundown Business Rundown: Inflation Cools as "Big Beautiful Bill" Benefits Roll Out
Feb 13, 2026
Lou Basenese, Executive VP of Market Strategy at Prairie Operating Company and market analyst, breaks down recent CPI cooling and energy price drops. He discusses sticky shelter and healthcare inflation. He weighs housing affordability, potential nationwide price pullbacks, and how policy changes and Fed moves could shape jobs and growth.
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Inflation Cooling Gives Fed Cover
- Inflation cooled in January, driven largely by falling energy costs and tame core inflation readings.
- Lou Basenese says this gives the Fed cover to be dovish and consider rate cuts.
Shelter And Health Care Stay Sticky
- Sticky inflation remains concentrated in shelter and health care, which are structurally driven and harder to push down.
- Shelter rose only 0.2% in the month, signaling gradual improvement but persistent structural pressure.
Energy Drop May Be Temporary
- Energy was the standout with gasoline down sharply and helping bring overall inflation lower.
- Basenese warns the energy decline may be temporary as inventories remain tight and oil could rise later in the year.