PCE Inflation Today: “Goldilocks” or Head Fake? What the 26 Sept 2025 Report Really Means for Your Wallet, the Fed, and Markets
Key facts (as of Friday, Sept. 26, 2025) The in‑depth read 1) What today’s PCE report actually said The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that headline PCE prices rose 0.3% in August, nudging the yearly rate to 2.7%. Core PCE—the measure the Fed emphasizes—rose 0.2% on the month and held at 2.9% year‑over‑year. The monthly pace is consistent with ~2½–3% annualized inflation, not yet back to 2%, but notably not re‑accelerating. Bureau of Economic Analysis Under the hood, the same release shows nominal personal income up 0.4% and nominal consumer spending up 0.6%. After adjusting for inflation, real spending advanced ~0.4%, with goods outpacing services in August—useful context as households digest higher borrowing costs. Bureau of Economic