How Bitcoin reacted to the Personal Consumption Expenditures on 20 December 2019

The short answer

An ordinary reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 2.51 times as much as in a normal 15 minutes that day. For a PCE release, 2.03 times is usual. An hour later the price was 0.55% lower.

2.51x

Ordinary

Trading (volume ratio)
2.70x
usual for PCE: 2.52x
Price at 10:00 AM
$7,195.00
15 minutes later
−0.21%
One hour later
−0.55%
range 1.13%, hour before 0.76%
BTC/USDT, 5 minutes candles around the release, 10:00 AM America/New York

The dashed orange line is the release. Chart data from Binance.

Open
7,123.77
Close
7,167.78
24h change
0.61%
24h high
7,220.00
24h low
7,082.38
24h volume
30,118 BTC

The release

Released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on 20 December 2019 at 10:00 AM EST. The Personal Consumption Expenditures came in at 0.1% for November 2019, against 0.2% in October 2019. Prices are still rising, but more slowly than before.

It arrived at the same moment as Personal Income and Outlays and Core Personal Consumption Expenditures, so the reaction measured on this page belongs to all of them together.

How Bitcoin moved

Bitcoin was at $7,195.00 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.21% lower, and an hour later 0.55% lower. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 1.13% of its price, against 0.76% in the hour before.

Measured by Clometrix

Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 2.51x, against 2.03x for a typical PCE release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 2.70x, against a typical 2.52x. That is about what this release usually does. Both compare the quarter hour of the release with an ordinary quarter hour that same day, where 1.00x is no change: volatility is how far the price ranged, volume how much traded.

What made it matter

Since 2021, PCE releases in the two weeks before a Fed decision have moved Bitcoin more than those at other times: a median volatility ratio of 2.13x across 18, against 1.81x across 52. This one was not within two weeks of a Fed decision. Its own ratio of 2.51x compares with 1.81x for those, so it moved the price more than its circumstances alone would suggest.

Its record

Across 70 PCE releases since 2021, Bitcoin's median volatility ratio is 2.06x.

How it compares

Across 69 PCE releases since 2021, Bitcoin's usual price swing is 2.03x. This one was 1.24 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: PCE's usual, 2.03x. Thick line: this release, 2.51x.

Minute by minute

Each row is the time after the release, with the same length of time before it for comparison.

After High Low Close Change Range Range before Volume
1 minute 7220.00 7194.56 7212.04 0.24% 0.35% 0.17% 230 BTC
5 minutes 7220.00 7183.13 7192.75 -0.03% 0.51% 0.51% 451 BTC
10 minutes 7220.00 7174.53 7186.91 -0.11% 0.63% 0.60% 615 BTC
15 minutes 7220.00 7174.53 7179.63 -0.21% 0.63% 0.60% 710 BTC
30 minutes 7220.00 7170.00 7174.50 -0.29% 0.69% 0.62% 1,450 BTC
1 hour 7220.00 7139.00 7155.19 -0.56% 1.12% 0.76% 2,368 BTC
2 hours 7220.00 7133.00 7165.30 -0.41% 1.20% 0.76% 3,635 BTC
4 hours 7220.00 7133.00 7192.00 -0.04% 1.20% 0.99% 6,302 BTC
6 hours 7220.00 7133.00 7203.49 0.12% 1.20% 1.10% 9,619 BTC
8 hours 7220.00 7133.00 7192.00 0.65% 1.20% 1.30% 12,472 BTC
12 hours 7220.00 7133.00 7167.78 -0.38% 1.20% 1.70% 14,135 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for PCE Reaction
Bitcoin 2.51x 2.03x Ordinary
Ethereum 3.78x 1.77x Exceptional
XRP 1.79x 1.81x Ordinary
BNB 1.79x 1.75x Ordinary
Dogecoin 1.19x 1.52x Quiet
TRON 2.70x 1.43x Strong
Cardano 2.52x 1.90x Strong
Chainlink 0.99x 1.62x Quiet
Bitcoin Cash 3.19x 1.69x Strong
Hedera 1.96x 1.51x Strong
Litecoin 2.72x 1.64x Strong
POL (prev. MATIC) 1.21x 1.60x Quiet

What is the Personal Consumption Expenditures?

Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) is a measure of the prices people in the United States pay for goods and services. PCE accounts for about two-thirds of domestic spending and is a significant driver of gross domestic product (GDP). An estimated total of personal consumption expenditures (PCE) is compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis as one way to measure and track changes in the prices of consumer goods over time.

Every PCE release for Bitcoin

Questions about this page

Is 2.51x a lot?

For a PCE release it is ordinary: the usual is 2.03x. Each report has its own usual size, and its releases show it.

Will the next PCE do the same?

Nobody can say. A forecast shows the range Bitcoin moved in after past PCE releases, so you can plan for the likely size of the move.

What is PCE, and why does the Fed watch it?

PCE is the Personal Consumption Expenditures price index published by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Federal Reserve measures its 2 percent inflation goal with the PCE price index. PCE, Core PCE and Personal Income are released together at 8:30 a.m. ET and share one reaction. Their median Bitcoin price swing since 2021 is 2.03x, which places them in Tier 2.

More questions · Glossary

Disclaimer

The data analysis, forecasted results and projections provided herein are based on historical price action and market trends. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information, these predictions are speculative and should not be considered a guarantee of future performance. Market conditions can change rapidly, and past performance is not indicative of future results. Trading and investing involve significant risk, and you should conduct your own research and consult with a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions. We do not assume any liability for any losses that may result from reliance on this information.