IntermediateMAD Academy0:45Macro

The Measure the Fed Actually Targets

The Fed's two percent target is PCE, not CPI, and the two differ in weights and in whether they let people substitute.

0:45 · 6 scenes

This lesson is part of a MAD Academy plan.

What the Lesson Covers

  1. 0:00The Fed's two percent target is not CPI. It is a different index.
  2. 0:05The three differences. They use different weights, cover different spending, and only one lets people substitute.
  3. 0:15What substitution means. If beef gets expensive and people buy chicken, PCE follows them. CPI mostly does not.
  4. 0:24The consequence. PCE typically runs a few tenths below CPI, so the same reality gives two numbers.
  5. 0:32Which to watch. Core PCE for policy, CPI for the headlines and for anything indexed to it.
  6. 0:40Know which index a claim about inflation is using.
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Educational content only. MadStockAlerts provides market commentary, research, and educational content. It is not personalized investment advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Trading and investing involve substantial risk, including loss of capital. See the Risk Disclosure and Customer Agreement.
Educational content only. MadStockAlerts provides market commentary, research, and educational content. It is not personalized investment advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Trading and investing involve substantial risk, including loss of capital. See the Risk Disclosure and Customer Agreement.
The Measure the Fed Actually Targets — MAD Academy Training Video · MadStockAlerts