March 28 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures moved

lower on Friday as investors assessed an in-line inflation

report to gauge the trajectory of the Federal Reserve's monetary

policy easing this year.

The Commerce Department's report showed the Personal

Consumption Expenditures Price index rose 2.5% in February on an

annual basis, compared with expectations of a 2.5% increase

according to economists polled by Reuters. On a monthly basis,

the index rose 0.3%, versus estimates of a 0.3% climb.

Excluding volatile items such as food and energy, the index

rose 2.8% on an annual basis in the previous month, compared

with forecasts of a 2.7% increase.

At 8:31 a.m. ET, U.S. S&P 500 E-minis

were down 15.75 points, or 0.28%, Nasdaq 100 E-minis

were down 80.5 points, or 0.4%, and Dow E-minis were

down 81 points, or 0.19%.