Bonds Eventually Pass on Decisive Reaction to Tuesday's Data

Bonds Eventually Pass on Decisive Reaction to Tuesday's Data

Right at the 8:30am release time, bonds rallied on core CPI almost perfectly hitting unrounded forecasts (.32 vs .31). Additionally, the 2.7% vs 2.8% annual headline number was another step in the right direction. As markets digested the internals, the "yeah but" trading emerged.  "Yeah buts" included supercore CPI (core services excluding housing) rising to 0.481 vs 0.212 month-over-month and evidence of the tariff impact via the highest annual core goods inflation since June 2023.  So on one hand, declines in housing related inflation are finally helping keep the number down while other categories are pushing back in the other direction, keeping the broader numbers a bit stubborn.  The mixed data and mixed market reaction place even more emphasis on the next jobs report when it comes to informing the next big move for rates.

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Hot and Cold CPI Raises Stakes For Next Jobs Report

MBS & Treasury Markets
UMBS 5.5 100.13 +0.04 10YR 4.271% -0.018% 8/13/2025 3:06AM EST
Most of the post-CPI gains are now erased.  In fact, 10yr yields are at new highs for the day, up 1.7bps at 4.301.  This reaction is more in line with the internal components addressed in our  morning commentary. MBS are still technically stronger on the morning, but have given up all of the post-CPI gains.  2yr yields have also back-tracked, but Fed Funds Futures are still doing a bit better.  Bottom line, only the very shortest-term debt is seei...   READ MORE
Today's Mortgage Rates
30YR Fixed 6.53% -0.05% 15YR Fixed 5.90% -0.02% 8/13/2025
Pundits, politicians, and everyone else can continue to assume that mortgage rates will respond to changes to the Fed Funds Rate. Meanwhile the bonds that actually dictate mortgage pricing will continue responding to the most important economic reports. The two biggest examples are the monthly jobs report and today's release of the Consumer Price Index (CPI). To be fair to those who are overly-focused on the Fed, there is a correlation between this data and the Fed's deci...   READ MORE
Economic Calendar
Time Event Period Actual Forecast Prior
Tuesday, Aug 12
12:00AM Roll Date - UMBS 30YR
6:00AM Jul NFIB Business Optimism Index Jul 100.3 98.6 98.6
8:30AM Jul y/y Headline CPI (%) Jul 2.7% 2.8% 2.7%
8:30AM Jul m/m Headline CPI (%) Jul 0.2% 0.2% 0.3%
8:30AM Jul y/y CORE CPI (%) Jul 3.1% 3% 2.9%
8:30AM Jul m/m CORE CPI (%) Jul 0.3% 0.3% 0.2%
10:00AM Fed Barkin Speech
10:30AM Fed Schmid Speech
12:00PM WASDE Report (%)
2:00PM Jul Federal budget, $ (bl) Jul $-291B $-215B $27B
Wednesday, Aug 13
7:00AM Aug/08 MBA Refi Index Aug/08 956.2 777.4
7:00AM Aug/08 MBA Purchase Index Aug/08 160.2 158.0
7:30AM Fed Barkin Speech
10:30AM Aug/08 Crude Oil Inventory (ml) Aug/08 3.037M -0.8M -3.029M
1:00PM Fed Goolsbee Speech
1:30PM Fed Bostic Speech
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Last Friday's jobs report sparked a big rally in the bond market, and thus a big improvement for mortgage rates.  This week was very light in terms of market data and volatility, but it helped solidify the improvement from the jobs report. Specifically, the average lender wasn't even able to fully adjust their rates to account for market movement last Friday. When bonds maintained those ga... READ MORE