The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge showed that prices ticked slightly higher in May as the central bank waits for signs of tariff-induced inflation reaching consumers this summer.
The Commerce Department on Friday reported that the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index rose 0.1% on a monthly basis and 2.3% compared with a year ago. Those figures are largely in line with LSEG estimates, while the annual headline figure was up from 2.1% last month.
Core PCE, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, was up 0.2% from a month ago and 2.7% on an annual basis, slightly higher than LSEG estimates.
Federal Reserve policymakers are focusing on the PCE headline figure as they try to bring inflation back to their long-run target of 2%, though they view core data as a better indicator of inflation. Headline PCE was up from 2.1% in April, while core PCE also ticked higher from 2.5%.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
