The latest Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index report, released by the Commerce Department on Friday, showed inflationary pressures remain stubbornly high in the United States.
The core PCE index, which excludes volatile food and energy prices and is closely monitored by the Federal Reserve, rose 2.8% year-over-year in March, matching February’s increase and surpassing the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 2.7%.
George Mateyo, chief investment officer at Key Wealth, cautioned against excessive optimism, stating, “Inflation reports released this morning were not as a hot as feared, but investors should not get overly anchored to the idea that inflation has been completely cured and the Fed will be cutting interest rates in the near-term.”
Despite the elevated price levels, consumer spending showed resilience, rising 0.8% month-over-month, slightly higher than the 0.7% estimate and matching February’s increase.
However, this spending came at the cost of savings, as the personal saving rate fell to 3.2%, a full 2 percentage points lower than a year ago.
Core PCE inflation, annualized rates:
1 month: 3.9%
3 months: 4.4%
6 months: 3.0%
12 months: 2.8% pic.twitter.com/fnoRWNhW6W— Jason Furman (@jasonfurman) April 26, 2024
The PCE report follows disappointing inflation data from Thursday, which showed that PCE in the first quarter accelerated at a 3.4% annualized rate while gross domestic product increased just 1.6%, falling short of Wall Street expectations.
RELATED: Official Government GDP Reading Comes In Much Lower Than Expected, Stock Futures Plungee
This data likely cements the Federal Reserve’s stance on maintaining interest rates through at least the summer, barring any substantial changes in the economic landscape.
As inflation continues to persist two years after its initial surge to the highest level in more than four decades, central bank policymakers are closely monitoring the data to determine their next moves in monetary policy.
The Fed’s target inflation rate is 2%, a level that core PCE has exceeded for the past three years.
In our opinion, the root cause of the ongoing inflation lies in excessive government spending and money printing.
Until these issues are addressed, it is unlikely that inflationary pressures will subside.
People are just way too calm with this being the PCE backdrop
Comps are about to get harder, not easier
The Fed can only ignore reality so long. They are running out of leash. pic.twitter.com/APEJKxT8GD
— Rev Cap (@rev_cap) April 26, 2024
The Federal Reserve’s attempts to control inflation through interest rate hikes may provide temporary relief, but a long-term solution requires fiscal discipline and a more measured approach to monetary policy.
As the economy continues to deal with the aftermath of the botched government response to the Covid pandemic, the shift in consumer spending from goods to services is becoming more apparent.
Services prices increased 0.4% month-over-month, while goods prices rose just 0.1%. Food prices showed a slight decline of 0.1%, while energy prices increased by 1.2%.
The path to economic stability and sustainable growth remains uncertain, as policymakers navigate the delicate balance between curbing inflation and maintaining a healthy level of consumer spending.
READ NEXT: Corporate Bankruptcies Surged in the First Quarter of This Year Compared to 2023
The coming months will be crucial in determining the effectiveness of the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy decisions and the government’s fiscal strategies in addressing the ongoing inflationary pressures.
