U.S. June PCE Posts First Monthly Decline Since 2020; Q2 GDP Cools as Domestic Demand Hits Two-Year High

BlockBeats reports that U.S. inflation data for June showed a rare monthly pullback. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index fell 0.1% month over month on July 30, the first decline since the pandemic shock in 2020. The year-over-year gain eased to 3.7% from May's three-year high of 4.1%. Core PCE increased 0.1% on the month, while the annual core rate slipped to 3.3% from 3.4%. Even with the slowdown, core inflation has remained above the Federal Reserve's 2% target for a sixth straight year. The latest cooling has been tied largely to lower oil prices after a temporary ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. Demand indicators were firmer. Real consumer spending rose 0.4% month over month in June, matching the strongest pace since July 2025. Economic growth moderated in Q2. Annualized GDP growth slowed to 1.5% from 2.1% in Q1. At the same time, domestic private final sales—which strip out net exports, inventories, and government spending—jumped 3.9%, more than doubling from the prior quarter and marking the highest level since early 2023. Consumer spending, roughly two-thirds of the economy, accelerated to 3.2% from 0.5%. Low unemployment, tax cuts, and an AI investment boom have helped underpin household consumption and business capital outlays. Energy remains a central risk for the second half: the average price of regular gasoline reached $4.22 per gallon in Q2, well above the sub-$3 levels seen before the conflict, and oil prices have risen again this month. Consumer-goods companies such as Procter & Gamble have noted that shoppers are becoming more price sensitive. Ahead of the GDP release, the Federal Reserve voted 9–3 to hold rates steady at 3.5% to 3.75%. Three regional Fed presidents dissented, calling for a 25-basis-point hike. Wash said the "economy has demonstrated impressive resilience." The growing number of hawkish votes underscores deepening divisions within the Fed.