September Core PCE Rises 2.8% Annually, Missing Forecasts by 0.1 Percentage Point

The U.S. Commerce Department released September's core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index data on Dec. 5, showing a 0.2% monthly increase and 2.8% annual rise, with the annual rate 0.1 percentage point below expectations, Bureau of Economic Analysis data show. Overall PCE climbed 0.3% month-over-month with annual inflation at 2.8%, both meeting forecasts. The Federal Reserve uses the PCE price index as its primary inflation gauge, with core data considered a more reliable indicator of long-term trends.