The personal consumption expenditures price index increased a seasonally adjusted 0.4% for the month, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 3.8%, the Commerce Department reported today.
Excluding food and energy, core prices rose 0.2% for the month and 3.3% for the year, against estimates of 0.3% and 3.3%.
While the annual rates were in line with forecasts, the soft monthly readings could provide some hope that the burst in prices over the previous month had begun to ease.
Goods prices jumped 0.7% in April, pushed again by gasoline, which surged 5.5%. Services prices rose 0.3%, which included a 0.6% acceleration in the housing and utilities category and a 0.5% increase in food services and accommodations.
Housing prices broadly increased 0.5%, the biggest monthly gain going back at least until January 2025. Services excluding food, energy and housing rose just 0.2% for the month.