The release
Released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on 23 December 2021 at 8:30 AM EST. The Personal Consumption Expenditures came in at 0.7% for November 2021, against 0.6% in October 2021. Prices are rising faster than before.
It arrived at the same moment as Durable Goods Orders, Durable Goods Orders Excluding Transportation, Personal Income and Outlays, Core Personal Consumption Expenditures, Initial Jobless Claims and Continued Jobless Claims, so the reaction measured on this page belongs to all of them together.
Measured by Clometrix
Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 0.75x, against 2.03x for a typical PCE release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 1.53x, 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 $48,786.72 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.16% lower, and an hour later 0.44% lower. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 0.7% of its price, against 0.87% 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 0.75x compares with 1.81x for those, so it moved the price less than its circumstances would suggest.
What it means
Bitcoin registered a quiet reaction to the November PCE print of 0.7 percent, posting a volatility ratio of 0.75x against the 2.09x median recorded across 69 prior PCE releases. Volume expanded only 1.53x, below the 1.5x mark that separates a reaction from ordinary trading. Price moved just 0.16 percent lower in the first fifteen minutes and 0.44 percent lower after an hour, while the hourly range narrowed to 0.7 percent from 0.87 percent beforehand.
The release fell 33 days before the next Federal Reserve decision, outside the two-week window that has produced a higher median volatility ratio of 2.13x for Bitcoin since 2021. Its own 0.75x reading therefore sat well below the 1.81x median seen at non-Fed-window PCE events. Traders watching the next PCE release can note that the event has produced its largest Bitcoin moves when it coincides with the pre-decision period, yet the record also shows that timing alone does not guarantee elevated volatility on any single occasion.
How it compares
Across 69 PCE releases since 2021, Bitcoin's usual price swing is 2.03x. This one was 0.37 times the usual.
Thin line: PCE's usual, 2.03x. Thick line: this release, 0.75x. 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 | 48789.99 | 48745.16 | 48751.60 | -0.07% | 0.09% | 0.04% | 16 BTC |
| 5 minutes | 48842.08 | 48745.16 | 48819.99 | 0.07% | 0.20% | 0.13% | 175 BTC |
| 10 minutes | 48842.08 | 48745.16 | 48797.88 | 0.02% | 0.20% | 0.21% | 261 BTC |
| 15 minutes | 48842.08 | 48710.00 | 48710.01 | -0.16% | 0.27% | 0.26% | 393 BTC |
| 30 minutes | 48842.08 | 48584.43 | 48614.97 | -0.35% | 0.53% | 0.50% | 669 BTC |
| 1 hour | 48842.08 | 48500.00 | 48572.48 | -0.44% | 0.70% | 0.87% | 1,155 BTC |
| 2 hours | 48844.55 | 48464.00 | 48790.01 | 0.01% | 0.78% | 1.29% | 2,225 BTC |
| 4 hours | 49261.53 | 48464.00 | 49200.03 | 0.84% | 1.62% | 1.45% | 5,563 BTC |
| 6 hours | 50984.81 | 48464.00 | 50809.35 | 3.98% | 4.94% | 1.69% | 13,741 BTC |
| 8 hours | 49261.53 | 48149.00 | 49200.03 | 1.87% | 2.26% | 1.44% | 10,017 BTC |
| 12 hours | 51375.00 | 48464.00 | 51076.30 | 4.48% | 5.67% | 1.69% | 22,861 BTC |
Every coin at this release
| Coin | Price swing | Usual for PCE | Reaction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitcoin | 0.75x | 2.03x | Quiet |
| Ethereum | 0.82x | 1.77x | Quiet |
| XRP | 0.72x | 1.81x | Quiet |
| BNB | 0.73x | 1.75x | Quiet |
| Solana | 0.48x | 1.57x | Quiet |
| Dogecoin | 1.04x | 1.52x | Quiet |
| TRON | 0.80x | 1.43x | Quiet |
| Cardano | 0.98x | 1.90x | Quiet |
| Chainlink | 0.91x | 1.62x | Quiet |
| Bitcoin Cash | 0.75x | 1.69x | Quiet |
| Hedera | 0.98x | 1.51x | Quiet |
| Avalanche | 0.71x | 1.55x | Quiet |
| Litecoin | 0.56x | 1.64x | Quiet |
| Shiba Inu | 0.93x | 1.75x | Quiet |
| Uniswap | 0.86x | 1.49x | Quiet |
| Polkadot | 0.97x | 1.50x | Quiet |
| Aave | 0.99x | 1.58x | Quiet |
| NEAR Protocol | 0.75x | 1.43x | Quiet |
| Internet Computer | 1.27x | 1.50x | Quiet |
| POL (prev. MATIC) | 1.36x | 1.60x | Quiet |
| Filecoin | 0.74x | 1.51x | 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.Questions about this page
Is 0.75x 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.
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.