Why Bitcoin Price Isn’t Moving Even as US Inflation Drops Toward 1%

Key Insights

  • Bitcoin price is holding steady near key levels, even as real-time inflation falls close to 1%.
  • Lower inflation supports easier policy ahead, but traders are still waiting for confirmation.
  • A move above $91,200 is needed to unlock the next short-term BTC price push.

A new inflation reading is drawing attention across markets this week. A real-time inflation tracker now shows US inflation close to 1.2%. This data updates every day and is based on millions of prices from online shopping, housing, food, fuel, and other common expenses.

This number is very different from the official inflation figure, which still sits near 2.7%. That official data reflects prices from weeks ago and only updates once a month. But why are these numbers different, and how could the difference impact Bitcoin price going forward?

Is Inflation Falling Faster Than Expected?

The real-time inflation data shows stability. Rent growth has slowed. Online goods are cheaper. Shipping and energy costs have eased. Food prices are not moving as quickly.

This inflation number comes from a real-time tracker that analyzes prices daily, using millions of data points from online shopping, rent, groceries, fuel, and other daily costs.

Unlike official inflation data, which updates once a month and looks backward, this data shows what prices are doing right now. That is why it often moves earlier than government numbers. It does not replace official data, but it helps people see where inflation may be heading next.

In the past, large gaps between real-time inflation and official inflation were later followed by official data moving in the same direction.

Inflation Tracking | Source: X
Inflation Tracking | Source: X

This is why many traders are watching this closely. Lower inflation often leads to easier financial conditions over time. Possibly rate cuts even. That process does not happen in one day. It usually happens slowly.

Bitcoin Price Remains Calm, Despite the Positive Numbers

Bitcoin is trading near $89,500. BTC price has stayed around this area for several days. There has been no strong move higher and no sharp drop lower. This kind of price behavior usually happens when buyers and sellers are both active, but neither side is rushing.

Some people are holding Bitcoin based on longer-term expectations. Others are reducing exposure after the recent run earlier this month, including institutions, via ETFs. Bitcoin price is still trading inside an upward price channel. The lower edge of that channel held earlier this week, and the BTC price bounced from there. But the move has remained small.

Bitcoin Price Action | Source: TradingView
Bitcoin Price Action | Source: TradingView

From current levels, Bitcoin needs to move about 2% to reach $91,200. That area has acted as a resistance before. Above that, the next zone people watch sits near $95,900, followed by the round $100,000 level. So far, the price has stayed below these areas.

Inflation and Bitcoin Price Could Connect Later

In many past cycles, Bitcoin did not move immediately when inflation data changed. Price often followed later, once interest rate expectations became clearer. Even when the US CPI data came in cooler than expected, the markets didn’t immediately react.

Therefore, this tracker-specific inflation data might not end up moving the Bitcoin price right away. Yet, it sets a stage and aligns expectations for the future.

Right now, interest rates remain unchanged. Policymakers are still cautious and continue to rely on official inflation data rather than real-time trackers. That is one reason the price has not reacted yet.

If future official inflation releases begin to move closer to the lower real-time readings, expectations may shift more clearly. That process usually takes weeks, not days. Until then, the Bitcoin price remains steady, moving slowly while markets absorb new information.

Source: https://www.thecoinrepublic.com/2026/01/23/why-bitcoin-price-isnt-moving-even-as-us-inflation-drops-toward-1/