Fed’s preferred inflation gauge subsides, in line with consensus, in February
Core PCE Price Index, which excludes food and energy, rose 0.3% M/M in February vs. +0.3% consensus and 0.5% prior (revised from +0.4%).
On a year-over-year basis, core PCE increased 2.8% Y/Y, compared with the +2.8% consensus and +2.9% prior (revised from 2.8%).
Including food and energy prices, the PCE Price Index grew 0.3% M/M, less than the +0.4% expected and slowing from +0.4% in January (revised from +0.3%).
Prices for goods rose by 0.5%, bolstered by energy prices, and prices for services rose 0.3%. Food prices edged up 0.1%, while energy prices jumped 2.3% during the month.
2.5% Y/Y vs. +2.5% expected and +2.4% prior.
Personal income increased less than expected, up 0.3% M/M vs. +0.4% expected and +1.0% prior, the U.S. Commerce Department said on Friday.
Personal outlays climbed 0.8% M/M, exceeding the +0.5% expected and accelerating from +0.2% in January.
Real disposable income, which is adjusted for inflation, declined 0.1% M/M in February, while real personal consumption expenditures increased 0.4%.