inflation stayed stubbornly high in april potentially reinforcing the chances that interest rates could stay higher for longer according to a gauge released friday that the federal reserve follows closely the personal consumption expenditures price index which measures a variety of goods and services and adjusts for changes in consumer behavior rose 04 for the month excluding food and energy costs higher than the 03 dow jones estimate on an annual basis the gauge increased 47 01 percentage point higher than expected the commerce department reported including food and energy headline pce also rose 04 and was up 44 from a year ago higher than the 42 rate in march this is breaking news please check back here for updates