CNBC Business News Update - Market Close: Stocks Higher But Rally Faded, Inflation Cooler Than Expected As Investors Question The Data, Volatile Trading Expected Friday 12/18/25

Episode Date: December 18, 2025

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I'm Jessica Eddinger. CNBC, Wall Street opens Friday morning after a rally and a fade for stocks. On a cooler than expected November inflation report, although there are questions about the data in that report, the Dow had been up almost 400 points. It finished the day up 65 points. Amazon shares led the way up 2.5%. The S&P 500 index up 53 points, 8 tenths of a percent, snapping a four-day losing streak. The NASDAQ also in the green, it was up 313 points, 1.3%.

Shares of Nvidia on Thursday up 1.7%. The delayed CPI Consumer Price Index showed inflation rose again last month, but not as drastically as feared. Oh, maybe coming in a little bit better than expected. 2.7%, a little light here, year over year 27, X Food and Energy Core 2.6, so 4 tenths off. That is a very good number. here. That's CNBC senior economics reporter Steve Leesman. But here with CNBC's Carl Kintanilla, there's talk about the accuracy of this new CPI report. Some questions now being raised about how much we might trust to this print. Are Steve Leesman's looking into that? I've seen the Buccellus response this morning. Dude, that was one flawed report. The bond market and

economists highly skeptical with many saying changes to the data gathering process. They started gathering data mid-month distorted the numbers. RSM saying, as Carl just quoted, dude, that was one flawed report. Morgan Stanley, a little more perhaps politics saying this was a noisy print, making it difficult to draw strong conclusions. The bond market, they were not impressed here. And one economist tells CNBC the devil appears to be in the details in this November report. It's frustrating because they haven't even posted the information that I would need to parse all of this, given the confusing way they've displayed the information. But the important number is the year-over-year change in the prices of core goods. And that was 1.4%. And that

may not sound like a lot, but this is a category that in normal times has negative inflation all the time. And this is where we're seeing tariffs. Brookings institutions Wendy Edelberg on CNBC. Cannabis company shares had a good day Thursday. President Trump signed an executive order reclass pacifying pot opening the door to broader access. American Airlines will not let basic economy flyers earn miles anymore. The lowest ticket fare will not count toward a passenger status. Friday could be a wild day of trading on Wall Street because so many options will expire. Goldman Sachs says a record at more than $7 trillion worth. Also on Friday's watch list. We get the latest existing home sales numbers. We get a new read on consumer sentiment. Earnings are

are coming from paychecks, Conagra, and Carnival Cruises. Friday night, Oklahoma and Alabama kick off the college football playoffs. And new in theaters Friday, Disney's Avatar, Fire and Ash. Lions Gates, the House Made, and Paramount's SpongeBob movie Search for SquarePants. Jessica Eddinger, CNBC. Become a smarter investor with CNBC Pro, 24-7 access to market-moving news and interviews with three global live streams. content plus exclusive live events this is my first time at the stock exchange and it's been awesome to be on the floor i just can't believe i'm here become a cnbc pro go to cnbc.com slash get pro now