CNBC Business News Update Market Midday: Stocks Lower, "True-Flation" Is A Thing, Existing Home Sales Disappoint In January 2/12/26
Feb 12, 2026
Sara Eisen, CNBC correspondent who breaks down economic measures and consumer affordability. She explains the new 'trueflation' metric and why it matters. She also covers the sharp drop in existing home sales and shifting housing-market details. Markets dipped with tech pressure and investors eyeing upcoming CPI data.
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Broad Market Sell-Off Ahead Of CPI
- Markets sold off with major indexes down as investors reacted to weak software names and Cisco's plunge.
- Investors are waiting for the January CPI print, expected around 2.5%, which will influence Fed decisions.
Trueflation Offers A Different Inflation View
- The administration highlights an alternative measure called Trueflation that uses thousands of real-time price inputs.
- Trueflation currently shows inflation under 1%, contrasting with headline CPI near the Fed's 2% target.
Housing Sales Slowed Sharply In January
- Existing-home sales unexpectedly fell 8.4% in January, a much larger drop than expected.
- Sales pace is the slowest since December 2023 and time on market has lengthened to 46 days.