Bitcoin (BTC) Price: Falls to $82,775 as US Consumers Expect Higher Rates
by Maisie Morrison · BlockonomiTLDR
Table of Contents
- Bitcoin hit an intraday low of $82,775.94 on Tuesday and is down 3.33% over the past week.
- US job openings eased to 7.1 million in August, while consumer confidence fell to 81.9 in September.
- 68.4% of consumers now expect higher interest rates over the next year.
- CryptoQuant says Bitcoin is still in a bull market, but record 2026 profit-taking and cooling demand point to a possible correction.
- CryptoQuant sees first support near $80,000, with further levels near $71,000 and $67,000.
Bitcoin (BTC) fell to an intraday low of $82,775.94 on Tuesday as new US economic data showed rising worries about inflation and interest rates. The coin was trading near $83,022 at the time of writing, down 0.99% in 24 hours.
Over the past week, Bitcoin has lost 3.33%. It is still up 5.80% over the past 30 days.
The drop follows a rally that took Bitcoin to an eight-month high of $87,400. The $84,000 level, which had acted as support, is now a level buyers are trying to reclaim.
Mixed Signals From US Data
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, US job openings were little changed at 7.1 million in August. That is down from a revised 7.3 million in July.
Hires held at 5.2 million, quits stayed at 3.1 million, and layoffs were steady at 1.6 million. The report points to somewhat softer demand for workers.
Consumer surveys told a different story. The Conference Board’s September consumer confidence index fell to 81.9 from 88.6 in August.
The share of consumers expecting higher interest rates over the next year rose to 68.4%. Average expected inflation climbed to 6.1%, while the median rose to 5.1%.
The survey ran from Sept. 1 to 23. That period included the Federal Reserve’s Sept. 16 rate increase to a range of 3.75% to 4.00%.
Treasury yields also remain high. On Sept. 28, the 10-year rate stood at 5.24% and the two-year at 4.92%.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs posted a net inflow of $31 million on Sept. 28, according to Farside Investors. That was smaller than each of the five sessions before it.
CryptoQuant Flags Profit-Taking
Onchain analytics firm CryptoQuant said Bitcoin is still in a bull market but may be close to a correction. Julio Moreno, the firm’s head of research, said Bitcoin’s close above its 365-day moving average last week confirmed the bull market.
The firm’s Bitcoin Bull Score Index sits at 90 out of 100. But Moreno said several indicators show the rally is losing steam.
Short-term traders’ unrealized profit margin has climbed to 33%, the highest since December 2024. Holders realized 25,700 BTC in profit on Sept. 22, the largest single day of 2026.
Demand is also cooling. Apparent spot demand shrank by 170,000 BTC over the past 30 days, and futures demand growth slowed from 164,000 BTC on Sept. 14 to 16,000 BTC on Sept. 29.
“Without fresh demand, rallies struggle to extend,” Moreno said.
Selling signs have appeared in altcoins as well. The seven-day count of altcoin exchange inflow transactions rose to 76,000, the highest since Oct. 17, 2025.
Moreno sees the 365-day moving average near $80,000 as the first support level. Further support lies near $71,000 and $67,000.
He described a move toward these levels as a “healthy consolidation” within a young bull market, as long as support holds.
Next, US PCE inflation data is due Sept. 30, followed by the September jobs report on Oct. 2.