04:03 PM EDT, 07/26/2024 (MT Newswires) -- US benchmark equity indexes ended higher Friday as markets evaluated the latest corporate earnings and economic data.

* The pace of US consumer spending growth eased in June while the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation metric held steady on an annual basis, government data showed. "On the inflation front, despite a slight uptick in the monthly core figure, the recent cooling trend is likely to be interpreted favorably by the (Fed)," TD Economics said in a note to clients.

* Personal consumption expenditures rose by an as-expected 0.3% in June after a 0.4% increase in May, lifted by gains in both goods and services spending. After an adjustment for inflation, real consumption was up 0.2% in June after a 0.4% increase in May. The year-over-year rate for the overall price index slowed to 2.5% from 2.6%.

* September West Texas Intermediate crude oil fell $1.63 to $76.62 per barrel, while September Brent crude, the global benchmark, was last seen down $1.73 at $80.65.

* 3M ( MMM ) surged 23% after the company raised the low end of its full-year earnings outlook. The industrial conglomerate's Q2 results also beat estimates.

* DexCom ( DXCM ) fell nearly 41% after the diabetes management company cut its full-year topline outlook as Q2 revenue fell short of market estimates.