S&P 500 Retreats as Inflation Data Sparks Market Caution
The S&P 500 ETF (SPY) pared early gains after May's Core PCE inflation reading surpassed expectations, rising 0.2% month-over-month versus forecasts of 0.1%. Yearly core inflation accelerated to 2.7%, with April's figure revised upward—reinforcing the Fed's cautious stance on rate cuts.
Federal Reserve officials remain divided, with some advocating patience amid potential tariff-driven inflation while others signal readiness for July rate reductions. The persistent inflation metrics challenge market expectations for imminent monetary easing.