CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money.
US English

PCE Index Preview: Forecasts point to no change in headline or core inflation from a month earlier

By Kyle Rodda

12:44, 29 May 2024

The markets continue to look for signals of disinflation in the United States. The latest PCE Index data, the US Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge, is released on May 31, 2024.

Headline and core PCE deflator tipped to remain steady

Following signs of softening price pressures in the recent CPI survey, the markets are turning attention to the PCE Index release, the US Federal Reserve’s chosen inflation gauge, to confirm the process of disinflation in the US economy is ongoing. According to data from Bloomberg, economists forecast the price growth was unchanged in April compared to a month earlier. Headline PCE is projected to remain at 2.7%, while the more significant core figure is estimated to remain at 2.8%. The forecasts suggest ongoing stickiness in US prices, supporting the claim that inflation has re-anchored above the Fed’s target and potentially re-accelerating.

(Source: Trading Economics)

Following the last FOMC meeting, at which the Fed pushed back on the need for further policy tightening and suggested rate cuts this year were still possible, US interest rate futures have shifted to imply a delayed start to the Fed’s next cutting cycle and fewer cuts by the end of 2024. The markets have deferred the timing of the first rate cut to December, with the December futures (below) contract implying less than a 25% chance of two cuts this year.

(Source: Bloomberg)

EUR/USD

1.10 Price
-0.020% 1D Chg, %
Long position overnight fee -0.0080%
Short position overnight fee -0.0002%
Overnight fee time 21:00 (UTC)
Spread 0.00006

GBP/USD

1.31 Price
+0.090% 1D Chg, %
Long position overnight fee -0.0038%
Short position overnight fee -0.0044%
Overnight fee time 21:00 (UTC)
Spread 0.00013

AUD/USD

0.67 Price
-0.290% 1D Chg, %
Long position overnight fee -0.0059%
Short position overnight fee -0.0023%
Overnight fee time 21:00 (UTC)
Spread 0.00006

GBP/JPY

194.11 Price
+0.110% 1D Chg, %
Long position overnight fee 0.0094%
Short position overnight fee -0.0176%
Overnight fee time 21:00 (UTC)
Spread 0.036

Unlike the CPI release, which came in at expectations but showed core prices fell to a three-year low, a lower-than-expected result from the PCE data is (more than likely) required to excite bullish sentiment. Meanwhile, signs of a pick-up in prices last month could reignite fears of stubborn or potentially reaccelerating inflation and drive further pricing out of rate cuts this year—a move that would be negative for market sentiment.

Technical analysis: GBP/USD

Although the markets have reduced expectations for Fed rate cuts this year, the GBP/USD has been in a short-term uptrend due to higher-than-expected UK inflation data and dialling back of Bank of England cuts. The pair’s technicals suggested a slowing upside moment, with an ascending wedge suggesting a possible reversal. The GBP/USD recently rejected resistance around 1.2800, marking that as a critical level. Meanwhile, 1.2700 is a level of previous resistance that may act as support if the pair’s uptrend breaks down.

(Source: Trading View)

(Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results)

Rate this article

The difference between trading assets and CFDs
The main difference between CFD trading and trading assets, such as commodities and stocks, is that you don’t own the underlying asset when you trade on a CFD.
You can still benefit if the market moves in your favour, or make a loss if it moves against you. However, with traditional trading you enter a contract to exchange the legal ownership of the individual shares or the commodities for money, and you own this until you sell it again.
CFDs are leveraged products, which means that you only need to deposit a percentage of the full value of the CFD trade in order to open a position. But with traditional trading, you buy the assets for the full amount. In the UK, there is no stamp duty on CFD trading, but there is when you buy stocks, for example.
CFDs attract overnight costs to hold the trades (unless you use 1-1 leverage), which makes them more suited to short-term trading opportunities. Stocks and commodities are more normally bought and held for longer. You might also pay a broker commission or fees when buying and selling assets direct and you’d need somewhere to store them safely.
Capital Com is an execution-only service provider. The material provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be understood as investment advice. Any opinion that may be provided on this page does not constitute a recommendation by Capital Com or its agents and has not been prepared in accordance with the legal requirements designed to promote investment research independence. While the information in this communication, or on which this communication is based, has been obtained from sources that Capital.com believes to be reliable and accurate, it has not undergone independent verification. No representation or warranty, whether expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy or completeness of any information obtained from third parties. If you rely on the information on this page, then you do so entirely at your own risk.

Still looking for a broker you can trust?

Join the 650,000+ traders worldwide that chose to trade with Capital.com

1. Create & verify your account 2. Make your first deposit 3. You’re all set. Start trading