XRP price prediction ahead of US PCE inflation data and government shutdown risks

On January 30, the XRP price crashed sharply, reflecting rising investor anxiety over the economic outlook.

Market jitters fueled by postponed U.S. inflation reports and potential government shutdowns drove heavy selling in the cryptocurrency market.

Macroeconomic pressure builds

After failing to hold the $1.86–$1.87 support area on January 29, selling pressure increased, sending the price down to $1.73 the next day. At the time of writing, Ripple (XRP) is down close to 5.4% in 24 hours.

The drop came after the Federal Reserve decided to hold interest rates steady, keeping the federal funds rate between 3.5% and 3.75%. While this was largely anticipated, uncertainty about the Fed’s next moves continues to weigh on investor sentiment.

Complicating the outlook is the ongoing distortion of U.S. economic data caused by earlier government shutdowns. Several key reports remain delayed, including the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Index, which will stay a month behind until April. This lack of timely data makes it more difficult for policymakers to confidently adjust rates.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis recently released a combined PCE report for October and November, showing inflation rose 2.8% year over year (excluding food and energy) and 0.2% month over month, largely in line with expectations. However, uncertainty has resurfaced as the current funding resolution expires on January 30, raising the risk of another partial government shutdown.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell noted that the U.S. is only now moving past data distortions caused by the previous six-week shutdown. Another lapse in funding could disrupt inflation data collection again, potentially affecting the quality of February’s CPI report.

XRP price prediction based on current levels

The near-term XRP outlook looks pretty bearish right now. If the price closes below $1.80 on a daily chart, it could open the door for a drop toward $1.60, and if sellers keep pushing, $1.50 isn’t out of the question.

On the flip side, XRP would need to break $1.83 on a daily close to show any short-term signs of recovery. Without some positive news on the macro front, it’s hard to see much upside right now.

What comes next?

According to current XRP forecasts, the cryptocurrency could see a bumpy ride in the near term due to political uncertainty, delayed U.S. inflation reports, and other macroeconomic headwinds. While XRP remains fundamentally appealing over the long term, the immediate XRP price prediction will hinge on how these risks play out.