10/19/2026
Week of October 12, 2026 in Review
Hotter-than-expected inflation, a rebound in existing home sales, and the story behind the retail sales numbers. Here's what you need to know.
Hotter Inflation Puts the Fed in Focus
Existing Home Sales Post Modest Gain
Quick Look: Consumer Spending and Unemployment
Hotter Inflation Puts the Fed in Focus
Inflation picked up in September, with the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rising 0.6% from the previous month, largely due to higher gas and energy costs.
Existing Home Sales Post Modest Gain
Existing home sales rose 1.5% from August to September, ending a three-month slide. However, sales remained 2.2% below year-ago levels, reaching a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.99 million homes.
Quick Look: Consumer Spending and Unemployment
Retail sales rose 0.8% in September, more than double expectations. The report measures total dollars spent, so higher gas prices helped boost the overall number by increasing sales at gas stations.
What to Look for This Week
Several key housing market reports are on tap this week. Monday brings home builder confidence data from the National Association of Home Builders, followed Tuesday by updates on Housing Starts, Building Permits and Pending Home Sales. On Thursday, the latest jobless claims data will offer another look at labor market conditions.