The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge didn’t budge in April

Inflation remained sticky in April, as a closely watched measure of price changes was unchanged from the month before, providing yet another reminder of stubborn price pressures.

Inflation remained sticky in April, as a closely watched measure of price changes was unchanged from the month before, providing yet another reminder of stubborn price pressures. The Personal Consumption Expenditures price index — a closely watched inflation gauge that the Federal Reserve uses for its 2% target — rose 0.3% from the month before, resulting in an annual rate of 2.7% that matched March’s gain, according to Commerce Department data. Although Friday’s report served as yet another reminder that slowing down inflation is a bumpy process, the results weren’t a surprise. Economists, by and large, weren’t expecting much of a meaningful shift in the inflation gauges. Both the monthly and annual increases in the overall and core index were projected to be unchanged from March, according to FactSet consensus estimates. This story is developing and will be updated.