U.S. incomes seen up in Feb, core prices tame

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. incomes probably continued to grow at a moderate pace in February, according to a Reuters poll, while underlying inflation pressures are likely to have eased.

Personal income, including wages, salaries and income from such sources as rent, is projected to have grown at a 0.3 percent annual rate in February, the same as in January, based on the median forecast of 70 economists polled by Reuters.

Personal consumption is likely to have risen just 0.1 percent following a 0.4 percent increase in January.

The widely watched gauge of inflation pressures, the core personal consumption expenditure price index, or PCE, is expected to have risen just 0.1 percent.

The core PCE strips out often-volatile food and energy costs.

The report is due on Friday at 8:30 a.m.

The following is a selection of comments from economists:

UBS

Forecasts: