31 October 2024
The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation measure, the core personal consumption expenditures (PCE) price index, rose 0.3% in September, marking its largest monthly increase since April. This development suggests a potential slowdown in future interest rate cuts. Despite the uptick in core inflation, overall inflation fell to 2.1%, approaching the Fed’s 2% target. Consumer spending grew by 0.4%, supported by wage increases, while the savings rate dropped to 4.6%. These economic indicators point to a resilient economy with persistent inflationary pressures, likely influencing the Fed’s approach to monetary policy in the coming months.