US October PCE price index preview

Aaron Hill FP Markets

Today, Australian CPI inflation numbers (Consumer Price Index) have already been seen, and the Reserve Bank of New Zealand has announced a 50-basis point (bp) cut during Asia Pac trading. In addition to Q3 24 US GDP (Gross Domestic Product) data coming in unchanged, the October US PCE price index (Personal Consumption Expenditures) will hit the wires at 3:00 pm GMT and is forecast to have risen on a YY basis (year on year).

PCE data expected to report higher numbers

Market expectations, according to Refinitiv data, suggest YY headline and core (excludes volatile food and energy prices) US PCE data has risen to 2.3% (from 2.1% in September) and 2.8% (from 2.7%), in October, respectively. Additionally, the October Personal Income and Outlays report is anticipated to show a 0.4% gain in personal income compared to 0.3% in September. This may seem surprising in light of the miserable jobs report we just had in October, though we must remember that wage growth has indeed increased.

Rate cut still likely in December

PCE data are closely monitored by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) and is their preferred measure of inflation. The Fed works to an inflation target of 2.0%, and assuming a higher PCE print today, this may be a little too hot for comfort and could prompt the central bank to consider hitting the pause button next month. We also have to remember that Fed Chair Jerome Powell stated that the central bank is not in any rush to cut rates while other Fed members have emphasised caution regarding easing policy too fast.

In my humble opinion, however, today’s PCE data is unlikely to prompt a pause from the Fed in December. Still, I feel we are now approaching a stage of a potentially shallower easing cycle, given inflation remains stubbornly north of the Fed’s inflation target. That said, should higher-than-expected jobs data be received next week, this could boost the chances of a rate hold next month and will likely underpin the US dollar (USD). Money markets are pricing in around 15 bps of easing for the December meeting (investors are assigning a 55% chance that the Fed will cut rates by 25 bps next month over a 45% probability they hold).

Seeing as both CPI and PPI (Producer Price Index) inflation numbers have already been released for October, these data help calculate the PCE figures. You will likely recall CPI inflation data came in line with economists’ estimates; however, YY headline inflation rose to 2.6% in October, increasing from September’s rate of 2.4% and marking the first upward shift since March. The largest upward contributor to CPI inflation was housing – more than half of the rise was down rising prices in housing – with food prices also rising in October. PPI inflation also increased across headline and core measures in October to 2.4% (from 1.9% in September) and 3.1% (from 2.9% in September).

While both the CPI and PCE Indexes attempt to measure consumer prices by tracking changes in the prices of a specific basket of goods and services each month, the CPI assigns a far greater weighting to shelter than the PCE Index does, which highlights that the PCE data could still fail to reach estimates.

Dollar index fading range resistance

As shown from the daily timeframe of the US Dollar (USD) Index, price action is fading quite a substantial range resistance from 107.21. This is a level the FP Markets Research Team have been watching closely for a while now, as a breakout from here could send the Index towards monthly resistance at 109.33.

However, a daily support area between 106.13 and 106.50 is currently in play, which could, given the room to run for monthly resistance, pose a problem for USD sellers.

Chart created using TradingView

Author

Aaron Hill

FP Markets

After completing his Bachelor’s degree in English and Creative Writing in the UK, and subsequently spending a handful of years teaching English as a foreign language teacher around Asia, Aaron was introduced to financial trading,

EUR/USD hits two-day highs near 1.1820

EUR/USD picks up pace and reaches two-day tops around 1.1820 at the end of the week. The pair’s move higher comes on the back of renewed weakness in the US Dollar amid growing talk that the Fed could deliver an interest rate cut as early as March. On the docket, the flash US Consumer Sentiment improves to 57.3 in February.

GBP/USD reclaims 1.3600 and above

GBP/USD reverses two straight days of losses, surpassing the key 1.3600 yardstick on Friday. Cable’s rebound comes as the Greenback slips away from two-week highs in response to some profit-taking mood and speculation of Fed rate cuts. In addition, hawkish comments from the BoE’s Pill are also collaborating with the quid’s improvement.

Gold climbs further, focus is back to 45,000

Gold regains upside traction and surpasses the $4,900 mark per troy ounce at the end of the week, shifting its attention to the critical $5,000 region. The move reflects a shift in risk sentiment, driving flows back towards traditional safe haven assets and supporting the yellow metal.

Crypto Today: Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP rebound amid risk-off, $2.6 billion liquidation wave

Bitcoin edges up above $65,000 at the time of writing on Friday, as dust from the recent macro-triggered sell-off settles. The leading altcoin, Ethereum, hovers above $1,900, but resistance at $2,000 caps the upside. Meanwhile, Ripple has recorded the largest intraday jump among the three assets, up over 10% to $1.35.

Three scenarios for Japanese Yen ahead of snap election

The latest polls point to a dominant win for the ruling bloc at the upcoming Japanese snap election. The larger Sanae Takaichi’s mandate, the more investors fear faster implementation of tax cuts and spending plans.

XRP rally extends as modest ETF inflows support recovery

Ripple is accelerating its recovery, trading above $1.36 at the time of writing on Friday, as investors adjust their positions following a turbulent week in the broader crypto market. The remittance token is up over 21% from its intraday low of $1.12.