Center-leftMostly Factual
QuartzNews report · Nov 12, 3:30 PM
U.S. existing home sales fell to lowest level since 2010 in October
Sales fell 5.5% from September to a 3.75 million annual rate as the average 30-year mortgage rate rose to 7.33%
← Today's headlines
3 sources checked · 2 source groups included · 31m ago
Still Watching
US home sales slumped in October to slowest pace in more than 16 years as mortgage rates surged
Quartz and Washington's Top News (WTOP) describe the same event in different terms.
1 Left2 Center0 Right
STILL WATCHING
As of November 12, 2026 at 4:33 PM, this is how Optics News reads the wording differences in this story.
What happened US home sales slumped in October to slowest pace in more than 16 years as mortgage rates surged.
The headline split The left frames it as "U.S. existing home sales fell to lowest level since 2010 in October". The center frames it as "Home sales plummet to lowest level since ‘Great Recession’ as prices hit all-time high".
Match confidence Medium confidence. 3 sources across 2 bias buckets. Useful framing signal — check the source list before sharing.
Same-event confidenceMedium
3 sources across 2 bias buckets agree on the event.
Framing confidenceModerate
65/99 — meaningful wording shift across the spectrum.
WHAT EACH SIDE EMPHASIZED
Left / center-leftU.S. existing home sales fell to lowest level since 2010 in October
Quartz · Center-left · News report
CenterUS home sales slumped in October to slowest pace in more than 16 years as mortgage rates surged
Washington's Top News (WTOP) · Center · News report
Right / center-rightNo matching source in this bucket yet.
Optics keeps watching for pickup.
SEE THE HEADLINES
Open source
CenterMostly Factual
Washington's Top News (WTOP)News report · Nov 12, 4:33 PM
US home sales slumped in October to slowest pace in more than 16 years as mortgage rates surged
Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes slumped in October to their slowest pace in more than 16 years as mortgage rates climbed sharply, ratcheting up borrowing costs for aspiring homebuye...
CenterMostly Factual
MarketWatchNews report · Nov 12, 3:52 PM
Home sales plummet to lowest level since ‘Great Recession’ as prices hit all-time high
Home sales fell in October to a 16-year low as buyers bolted from the housing market in the face of 7% mortgage rates.
Details65/99 Wording Gap · Medium confidence · 3 sources
65/99 Wording GapMedium confidence3 sources · 2 bias bucketsLive match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news formatFormats: News report
SOURCE MAP CHANGES
Nov 12, 3:30 PM: Quartz joined the source map.
Nov 12, 3:52 PM: MarketWatch joined the source map.
Nov 12, 4:33 PM: Washington's Top News (WTOP) joined the source map.
Now: Wording Gap is 65/99 and story health is live match · 3 sources · 2 buckets · comparable news format.