FX.co ★ US Core PCE Inflation Holds Steady at 0.4% in February, Signaling Persistent Price Pressures

The US Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index rose by 0.4% month-over-month in February 2026, matching January’s 0.4% increase, according to data updated on 9 April 2026. The core PCE gauge, which excludes volatile food and energy components, is closely watched as a key measure of underlying inflation trends.

On a month-over-month basis, February’s reading indicates that price pressures remained unchanged from the previous month, with no further deceleration in core inflation momentum. January 2026 had already posted a 0.4% gain versus December, and February’s identical rise underscores the ongoing stickiness in core prices rather than a clear path toward cooling.

The back-to-back 0.4% monthly prints suggest that, at least through February, underlying inflation dynamics have not meaningfully eased, a development that could remain central to monetary policy discussions as markets assess the trajectory of interest rates and the broader economic outlook in the United States.