US Core PCE Inflation Matches Expectations in August

The latest data reveals a slight uptick in inflation and continued strong consumer spending, keeping the Federal Reserve's approach unchanged amid labor market concerns.

Summary

US inflation, as measured by the Core PCE index, rose by 0.3% month-on-month in August, pushing annual inflation to 2.7%, while core inflation remained steady at 2.9%. Consumer spending grew by 0.6%, signaling robust economic activity. Despite a weakening labor market, inflationary pressures persist, leaving the Fed’s rate cut this year unchanged.

Terms & Concepts
  • Core PCE: The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index excluding food and energy, used by the Federal Reserve to gauge inflation trends.
  • PCE: Personal Consumption Expenditures, a key measure of inflation that tracks the price changes of goods and services consumed by households.
  • MoM: Month-over-month change, indicating the percentage movement compared to the previous month.