Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) prices in the United States slowed in the second quarter of 2026, with the annual rate easing to 3.60%, down from 4.40% recorded in the previous reading for the same period. The updated figures, released on 26 August 2026, point to a moderation in underlying inflation pressures.
The Core PCE index, which excludes volatile food and energy components, is closely followed as a key gauge of underlying price trends. The deceleration from 4.40% to 3.60% in Q2 2026 suggests that inflationary pressures in the U.S. economy may be gradually easing compared with earlier in the period.
While the data only cover the second quarter, the step down in the core measure could influence expectations around the inflation outlook and future policy discussions, given Core PCE’s role as a primary benchmark for underlying price dynamics in the U.S. economy.
