February 9th Market Update
Alright team, grab your favorite mug ☕️ and let’s look at the week ahead. We are moving out of the "Jobs Week" shadow and heading straight into a high-stakes week for the bond market. If last week was the appetizer, next week is the heavy-duty main course where we see if the "Inflation Beast" is truly behaving!
Here’s your economic playbook for February 9th – February 13th, 2026:
The 'Price is Right' Week! 💸📉
· Monday, Feb 9th: Treasury Auctions & Pizza! 🍕📜
o The Data: We start with 13-week and 26-week Bill auctions. The market will be watching the "yield" appetite of big investors.
o The Fun: It’s National Pizza Day! 🍕 Whether you like thin crust or deep dish, today is the day to treat the office. It’s the perfect fuel for a Monday morning of cold-calling and file-clearing.
· Tuesday, Feb 10th: RETAIL SALES! 🛍️✨
o The Big Check: This is a major market mover. We find out if consumers are still spending like crazy or if the holiday hangover has finally set in. High retail sales usually mean a strong economy—which can keep rates a little "crusty." ⬆️
· Wednesday, Feb 11th: THE MAIN EVENT—CONSUMER PRICE INDEX (CPI)! 💲🚨
o The Inflation Check: This is the heavyweight champion of the week. This report tells us if prices for everyday stuff are cooling off. A lower-than-expected CPI is the absolute "Golden Ticket" for lower mortgage rates! ⬇️
o The Fun: It’s National Make a Friend Day! 🤝 Perfect timing to reach out to a new Realtor partner and share the CPI news (especially if it's good!).
· Thursday, Feb 12th: PRODUCER PRICE INDEX (PPI)! 🏭💲
o The Wholesale Peek: We see what the manufacturers are paying. If their costs are dropping, it's a great sign that consumer prices will stay low in the future.
· Friday, Feb 13th: Friday the 13th & Olympic Spirit! 👻⛸️
o The Vibe: It might be Friday the 13th, but don't let the "spookiness" get to you! We'll be seeing some consumer credit data and the final wrap-up of the week's bond auctions.
o The Fun: The 2026 Winter Olympics are in full swing! 🥇 Channel that gold-medal focus to get your last few files across the finish line before the weekend.
What This Means for Your Mortgage Mission:
It’s all about the CPI on Wednesday morning. 🥊
· The Bull Case: If CPI comes in "cool," bond yields will likely drop, and we could see a beautiful window for your borrowers to lock in. 📉
· The Bear Case: If CPI stays sticky, the market will expect the Fed to keep rates higher for longer. ↔️
A Fun Fact for the Week: Pizza Power!
Did you know that Americans eat approximately 350 slices of pizza every second? 🍕 That’s about 100 acres of pizza per day! Just like a pizza, a good mortgage deal is all about the layers—a solid base of data, the "cheese" (expertise), and the right "toppings" (client service) to make it a masterpiece!