April 9 (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures were little

changed on Thursday as investors assessed an in-line inflation

reading and its impact on the Federal Reserve's monetary policy

path.

A Commerce Department report showed the Personal Consumption

Expenditure index - the Fed's preferred inflation gauge - rose

2.8% in February on an annual basis, in line with estimates,

according to economists polled by Reuters.

Core PCE, which excludes the volatile food and energy

components, rose 3% on an annual basis, also in line with

estimates.

A separate report showed the U.S. economy grew 0.5% in the

fourth quarter, compared with estimated growth of 0.7%.

At 08:34 a.m. ET, Dow E-minis were down 177 points,

or 0.37%, S&P 500 E-minis were down 19 points, or 0.28%,

and Nasdaq 100 E-minis were down 46.75 points, or 0.19%.

(Reporting by Avinash P in Bengaluru; Editing by Devika

Syamnath)