PCE Release Dates 2026
Complete schedule of all PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures) inflation reports in 2026 — the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge. Track Core PCE release dates, actual vs estimate results, and real-time QQQ & SPY market reactions.
2026 PCE Release Schedule
| # | Report | Release Date | Actual | Estimate | Previous | Status | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Core PCE Price Index MoM | Thu, Apr 9, 2026 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.4% | Past | Details → |
| 2 | PCE Price Index MoM | Thu, Apr 9, 2026 | 0.4% | 0.4% | 0.3% | Past | Details → |
| 3 | PCE Price Index YoY | Thu, Apr 9, 2026 | 2.8% | 2.8% | 2.8% | Past | Details → |
| 4 | PCE Price Index MoM | Thu, Apr 30, 2026 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 0.4% | Past | Details → |
| 5 | Core PCE Price Index MoM | Thu, Apr 30, 2026 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% | Past | Details → |
| 6 | PCE Price Index YoY | Thu, Apr 30, 2026 | 3.5% | 3.5% | 2.8% | Past | Details → |
| 7 | Core PCE Price Index MoM | Thu, May 28, 2026 | 0.2%❄️ | 0.3% | 0.3% | Past | Details → |
| 8 | PCE Price Index MoM | Thu, May 28, 2026 | 0.4%❄️ | 0.5% | 0.7% | Past | Details → |
| 9 | PCE Price Index YoY | Thu, May 28, 2026 | 3.8% | 3.8% | 3.5% | Past | Details → |
| 10 | PCE Price Index MoM | Thu, Jun 25, 2026 | 130.902% | — | 0.4% | Upcoming | Details → |
| 11 | PCE Price Index YoY | Thu, Jun 25, 2026 | 130.902% | — | 3.8% | Upcoming | Details → |
| 12 | Core PCE Price Index MoM | Thu, Jun 25, 2026 | 130.902% | — | 0.2% | Upcoming | Details → |
🔥 Hot = above estimate (inflationary). ❄️ Cool = below estimate (deflationary). Fed target: 2.0% annual Core PCE.
PCE vs CPI — The Fed's Preferred Inflation Gauge
The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index is published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) as part of the Personal Income and Outlays report. While CPI gets more media attention, the Federal Reserve officially uses Core PCE (excluding food and energy) as its primary inflation measure for monetary policy decisions.
- ›Excludes food & energy
- ›Chain-weighted formula
- ›Broader scope than CPI
- ›Fed target: 2.0% annual
- ›Released monthly by BEA
- ›Includes all goods & services
- ›Reflects actual consumer spending
- ›More volatile than Core PCE
- ›Includes food & energy prices
- ›Broader than CPI basket
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the next PCE inflation report in 2026?
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) releases the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Price Index on the last Friday of each month (approximately 30 days after the reference month), typically at 8:30 AM ET. The exact 2026 release dates are listed in the schedule above.
Why does the Fed prefer PCE over CPI?
The Federal Reserve targets Core PCE (excluding food and energy) as its primary inflation gauge because it: (1) covers a broader range of goods and services than CPI, (2) adjusts for substitution effects when consumers switch to cheaper alternatives, (3) uses chain-weighted formulas that better reflect real spending patterns. The Fed's target is 2% annual Core PCE.
What is the difference between PCE and Core PCE?
Headline PCE includes all goods and services including volatile food and energy prices. Core PCE strips out food and energy to show underlying inflation trends. The Fed focuses on Core PCE because food and energy prices can spike due to weather or supply shocks unrelated to monetary policy effectiveness.
How does the PCE report affect QQQ and SPY?
A hotter-than-expected Core PCE reading (above 2.0% annually) reduces the probability of Fed rate cuts, pushing bond yields higher and pressuring growth stock valuations in QQQ. A cooler reading increases cut probability, often boosting technology stocks. The reaction is typically strongest when PCE data deviates meaningfully from consensus estimates.
What is the difference between PCE and CPI?
CPI (Bureau of Labor Statistics) and PCE (Bureau of Economic Analysis) both measure inflation but differ in scope and methodology. PCE has a broader scope, uses chain-weighting, and assigns lower weights to housing (shelter). CPI tends to run about 0.3–0.5 percentage points higher than PCE over time. The Fed officially targets PCE, not CPI.