The core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index in the United States slowed modestly in March 2026, rising 0.3% month-on-month compared with a 0.4% increase in February 2026. The data, updated on 30 April 2026, suggest a slight easing in underlying inflation pressures as measured by the Federal Reserve’s preferred gauge of core price growth.
On a month-over-month basis, the “actual” March reading reflects the change from February to March, while the “previous” figure captures the change from January to February. The step down from 0.4% to 0.3% indicates that core price growth is still positive but advancing at a marginally slower pace than in the prior month. Investors and policymakers will be watching subsequent readings closely to determine whether this moderation in core PCE marks the beginning of a more sustained cooling in inflation.