The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge measured above expectations in March as the U.S. continues to see a surge in prices, among other concerning economic data, according to data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released Friday. The personal consumption expenditure (PCE) price index surged 0.3% in March, totaling 2.7% for the year and up from 2.5% in February, according to the BEA. The March PCE report adds to other recent concerning economic data, such as a report from the BEA on Thursday showing economic growth slowed to just 1.6% in the first quarter of 2024. The PCE pri…