Consumer Price Index (CPI) — Year-over-Year vs Existing Home Sales (Annualized)
Consumer Price Index (CPI) — Year-over-Year is currently 2.8% (down -0.1%). Existing Home Sales (Annualized) is currently 4.26M (up +0.2M).
| Metric | Consumer Price Index (CPI) — Year-over-Year | Existing Home Sales (Annualized) |
|---|---|---|
| Current value | 2.8% | 4.26M |
| Previous reading | 2.9% | 4.08M |
| Change | -0.1% | +0.2M |
| Trend | down | up |
| Frequency | Monthly | Monthly |
| Source | Bureau of Labor Statistics | National Association of Realtors |
| Last updated | 2026-03-12 | 2026-03-20 |
| Category | inflation | housing |
What Consumer Price Index (CPI) — Year-over-Year measures
The Consumer Price Index measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a basket of goods and services. The year-over-year change is the most commonly cited measure of inflation.
Inflation at 2.8% remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target but has moderated significantly from the 2022 peak of 9.1%. For executives, this means input costs are still rising faster than the Fed's comfort zone, but the pricing environment is stabilizing. Companies with strong pricing power can pass through cost increases; those in competitive markets face margin pressure. The Fed is unlikely to cut rates aggressively until CPI moves closer to 2%.
What Existing Home Sales (Annualized) measures
Existing home sales measures the number of completed sales of previously owned homes, expressed as a seasonally adjusted annual rate. It accounts for approximately 85-90% of all home sales in the U.S.
At 4.26 million, existing home sales remain well below the 2021 peak of 6.1 million. The 'lock-in effect' — where homeowners refuse to give up sub-4% mortgages — continues to constrain inventory. For executives, this suppressed transaction volume affects real estate commissions, moving services, home improvement spending, and mortgage origination revenue across the industry.
Frequently asked
Consumer Price Index (CPI) — Year-over-Year is currently 2.8%, down -0.1% from the previous reading. Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, updated monthly.
Existing Home Sales (Annualized) is currently 4.26M, up +0.2M from the previous reading. Source: National Association of Realtors, updated monthly.
Inflation at 2.8% remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target but has moderated significantly from the 2022 peak of 9.1%. For executives, this means input costs are still rising faster than the Fed' At 4.26 million, existing home sales remain well below the 2021 peak of 6.1 million. The 'lock-in effect' — where homeowners refuse to give up sub-4% mortgages — continues to constrain inventory. For