How Bitcoin reacted to the Personal Consumption Expenditures on 31 July 2020

The short answer

Hardly a reaction. In the 15 minutes after the figure came out, Bitcoin's price swung 0.76 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 0.59% lower.

0.76x

Quiet

Trading (volume ratio)
1.10x
usual for PCE: 2.52x
Price at 8:30 AM
$11,209.58
15 minutes later
+0.09%
One hour later
−0.59%
range 1.05%, hour before 0.80%
BTC/USDT, 30 minutes candles around the release, 8:30 AM America/New York

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

Open
11,095.78
Close
11,268.00
24h change
1.53%
24h high
11,444.00
24h low
10,960.00
24h volume
71,321 BTC

The release

Released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis on 31 July 2020 at 8:30 AM EDT. The Personal Consumption Expenditures came in at 0.3% for June 2020, against 0.1% in May 2020. Prices are rising faster 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.

Measured by Clometrix

Bitcoin's volatility ratio was 0.76x, against 2.03x for a typical PCE release since 2021. Its volume ratio was 1.10x, 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 $11,209.58 when the figure came out. Fifteen minutes later it was 0.09% higher, and an hour later 0.59% lower. Its high-to-low range in the hour after was 1.05% of its price, against 0.8% 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 2.13x across 18, against 1.81x across 52. This one came out 2 days after the Federal Reserve's 29 July rate decision. Its own ratio of 0.76x 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 0.37 times the usual.

MutedOrdinaryStrongExceptional

Thin line: PCE's usual, 2.03x. Thick line: this release, 0.76x. 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 11213.87 11209.58 11212.61 0.03% 0.04% 0.09% 49 BTC
5 minutes 11225.00 11206.40 11219.43 0.09% 0.17% 0.30% 263 BTC
10 minutes 11225.00 11193.52 11209.67 0.00% 0.28% 0.30% 478 BTC
15 minutes 11225.00 11193.52 11219.69 0.09% 0.28% 0.30% 661 BTC
30 minutes 11238.00 11184.69 11238.00 0.25% 0.47% 0.50% 1,616 BTC
1 hour 11245.00 11127.13 11143.90 -0.59% 1.05% 0.80% 3,421 BTC
2 hours 11245.00 11111.00 11159.91 -0.45% 1.19% 0.85% 6,700 BTC
4 hours 11444.00 11111.00 11281.50 0.64% 2.91% 1.11% 23,269 BTC
6 hours 11444.00 11111.00 11294.93 0.76% 2.91% 1.25% 29,334 BTC
8 hours 11444.00 11102.79 11281.50 1.05% 2.98% 2.05% 33,703 BTC
12 hours 11444.00 11111.00 11268.00 0.52% 2.91% 2.38% 44,989 BTC

Every coin at this release

Coin Price swing Usual for PCE Reaction
Bitcoin 0.76x 2.03x Quiet
Ethereum 1.07x 1.77x Quiet
XRP 0.63x 1.81x Quiet
BNB 0.70x 1.75x Quiet
Dogecoin 0.76x 1.52x Quiet
TRON 0.57x 1.43x Quiet
Cardano 0.85x 1.90x Quiet
Chainlink 0.68x 1.62x Quiet
Bitcoin Cash 1.18x 1.69x Quiet
Hedera 0.56x 1.51x Quiet
Litecoin 0.71x 1.64x Quiet
POL (prev. MATIC) 1.25x 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 0.76x 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.