Why Home Depot Is Sinking Today

A closely watched government inflation gauge came in hotter than expected in January, fueled in part by an uptick in housing costs. If the trend continues, it could put a damper on housing sales and home improvements.Investors are reading the data as bad news for Home Depot (HD -1.96%), sending the home improvement giant's stock down 3% as of 10:30 a.m. ET.A sluggish outlookThe housing sector is closely linked to interest rates. For most families, buying a house -- or doing a major remodeling project -- can ...