Jan 31 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures held on to

their gains on Friday, as an in-line inflation reading did

little to alter market expectations about the Federal Reserve's

interest-rate path.

The personal consumption expenditures price index rose 0.3%

in December, compared to a 0.3% increase forecast by economists

polled by Reuters. In the 12 months through December, PCE

inflation advanced 2.6% against an expectation of 2.6%.

Excluding the volatile food and energy components, the PCE

price index increased 0.2% last month against expectations of a

0.2% increase. Annually, it came in at 2.8%, compared with a

forecast of 2.8%.

At 08:32 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were up 125 points,

or 0.28%, S&P 500 E-minis were up 26.25 points, or 0.43%

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were up 155 points, or 0.72%.