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DOGE Sparks Biggest Plunge In Social Security Handouts Ever; Fed's Favorite Inflation Indicator Ticked Higher In May

The Fed's favorite inflation indicator - Core PCE - came in hotter than expected in May, rising 0.2% MoM (+0.1% MoM exp) and +2.7% YoY (+2.6% YoY exp)...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

Not exactly the hyped-up inflationary surge the tariff fearmongers had hoped for as non-durable goods price show modest increase MoM...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

Headline PCE rose 0.1% MoM (as expected) and the YoY change ticked up to +2.3% YoY...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

Non-durable goods flipped from deflationary to inflationary (modestly) in May...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

SuperCore PCE inched higher on a YoY basis (from +3.07% to +3.12% YoY)...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

Both personal income and spending tumbled in May (the former by the most since Sept 2021)...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

On the income side, govt workers saw wage growth slow:

  • Private worker wages rose 4.6% yoy, up from 4.4% and the highest since Dec 24

  • Govt worker wages rose 5.2%, down from 5.3% and lowest since Oct 22

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

But, Income's drop was mainly due to a plunge in government handouts...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

With the biggest drop in social security benefit handouts ever as DOGE killed all the payments to those 'dead' or extremely old people...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

The savings rate dropped significantly to 4.5% of DPI...

doge sparks biggest plunge in social security handouts ever feds favorite inflation indicator ticked higher in may

Source: Bloomberg

Is there enough here to nudge The Fed towards a cut? Or do we keep waiting for the 'lagged' effect of tariffs to finally show up in prices?

This is the 'transitory' no inflationary impact period!

Authored by Tyler Durden via ZeroHedge June 27th 2025