Benzinga - by Piero Cingari, Benzinga Staff Writer.
The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) Price Index report for August — the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge — released Friday delivered mixed results, keeping investors on edge over the future of Fed’s decisions on interest rates.
August PCE Inflation Report: Key Highlights
- The headline PCE price index increased from an upwardly revised 3.4% in July to 3.5% year-on-year in August 2023, matching the expected 3.5% and marking the second consecutive monthly rise.
- The month-over-month change in the PCE price index was 0.4%, a notable jump from July’s 0.2% increase but below the expected 0.5%.
- Excluding energy and food items from the basket, the core PCE price index dropped from 4.2% in July to 3.9% year-on-year in August, as expected. It marks the lowest core inflation reading since September 2021.
- The month-over-month variation in the core PCE price index fell to 0.2%, slightly below both the previous reading and economists’ consensus of 0.2%.
Treasury yields saw a slight decline ahead of New York market open, following weeks of significant increases. The yield on the 10-year note dropped by 4 basis points to reach 4.53%. The US Treasury 10 Year Note ETF (NYSE:UTEN) is down nearly 4% this month.
Following the PCE release, traders assigned an 85% probability to the Fed maintaining interest rates steady the upcoming November FOMC meeting. Market-implied probabilities for the December Fed meeting stand at 67% for no change and 33% for an interest rate hike.
Read also: US Government Shutdown Risks Data Blackout, Here Are 5 Key Alternatives For Investors
Photo via Shutterstock.
© 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.