August 2026 CPI: Inflation Holds at 3.4%. Is the Fed Poised to Hike?

The Bay Area angle

In my experience, every move in mortgage rates and the wider economy lands differently here in the Bay Area, where prices sit well above the national median and the monthly payment does the heavy lifting in what my buyers can afford. When rates climb, I watch purchasing power tighten faster here than in most of the country; when they ease, demand comes back quickly to a market that stays short on listings. My advice to clients is always the same: watch the payment, not just the price.