How Bitcoin reacted to the Personal Consumption Expenditures on 29 March 2019

The short answer

Hardly a reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 1.37 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 0.05% higher.

1.37x

Quiet

Trading (volume ratio)
2.74x
usual for PCE: 2.52x
Price at 8:30 AM
$4,093.00
15 minutes later
−0.16%
One hour later
+0.05%
range 0.39%, hour before 1.11%
BTC/USDT, 10 minutes candles around the release, 8:30 AM America/New York

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

Open
4,032.66
Close
4,118.96
24h change
2.10%
24h high
4,123.71
24h low
4,024.03
24h volume
30,344 BTC

The release

Released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on 29 March 2019 at 8:30 AM EDT. The Personal Consumption Expenditures came in at -0.1% for January 2019, against 0.1% in December 2018. Prices are falling, after a rise.

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.

Measured by Clometrix

Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 1.37x, against 2.03x for a typical PCE release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 2.74x, against a typical 2.52x. Under 1.5x is not a reaction at all: the market barely noticed this release. 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.

How Bitcoin moved

Bitcoin was at $4,093.00 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.16% lower, and an hour later 0.05% higher. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 0.39% of its price, against 1.11% in the hour before.

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 2.09x across 17, against 1.81x across 52. This one was not within two weeks of a Fed decision. Its own ratio of 1.37x compares with 1.81x for those, so it moved the price less than its circumstances would suggest.

How it compares

Across 69 PCE releases since 2021, Bitcoin's usual price swing is 2.03x. This one was 0.68 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: PCE's usual, 2.03x. Thick line: this release, 1.37x. Under 1.5x counts as no reaction at all.

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 4093.00 4088.06 4088.68 -0.11% 0.12% 0.05% 58 BTC
5 minutes 4093.00 4082.97 4084.74 -0.20% 0.25% 0.16% 289 BTC
10 minutes 4093.00 4082.92 4091.93 -0.03% 0.25% 0.23% 404 BTC
15 minutes 4093.00 4082.92 4086.42 -0.16% 0.25% 0.23% 601 BTC
30 minutes 4098.97 4082.92 4097.36 0.11% 0.39% 1.10% 1,077 BTC
1 hour 4098.97 4082.92 4095.14 0.05% 0.39% 1.10% 1,695 BTC
2 hours 4100.49 4082.92 4087.75 -0.13% 0.43% 1.10% 2,707 BTC
4 hours 4100.49 4068.00 4087.62 -0.13% 0.79% 1.86% 4,584 BTC
6 hours 4100.49 4068.00 4097.97 0.12% 0.79% 2.23% 5,806 BTC
8 hours 4123.71 4047.01 4087.62 0.91% 1.86% 1.07% 14,788 BTC
12 hours 4120.94 4068.00 4118.96 0.63% 1.28% 2.42% 10,565 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for PCE Reaction
Bitcoin 1.37x 2.03x Quiet
Ethereum 1.07x 1.77x Quiet
XRP 1.10x 1.81x Quiet
BNB 4.25x 1.75x Exceptional
TRON 2.76x 1.43x Strong
Cardano 1.02x 1.90x Quiet
Chainlink 1.55x 1.62x Ordinary
Litecoin 1.82x 1.64x Ordinary

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 1.37x a lot?

No. Under 1.5x the market barely noticed the release.

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.