Market Rally: 2.4% CPI Boosts Spring Rate Cut Hopes
February 16, 2026
Following Friday's inflation report, markets opened Monday, February 16th with optimism. Traders now see a 50% chance of a Fed rate cut in March.
Time Cost of Debt
Even with a potential small cut, mortgage rates remain high compared to 2021. The labor hours required to service debt are still 40% higher than 5 years ago.
Visualize it: Use the Salary Tracker to see how many minutes you work just to pay interest.