U.S. Consumer Prices Rise 0.6% in September as Gasoline Rises

What changed

U.S. consumer prices rose 0.6% in September, seasonally adjusted, with gasoline prices rising. The Consumer Price Index increased 3.7% over the year, while prices excluding food and energy rose 0.3% for the month and 2.6% annually.

Why it matters

Gasoline pushed the headline measure higher than the underlying measure. That gap matters: the 0.6% monthly increase was twice the core reading, making September’s result look sharper at the pump than across prices excluding food and energy.

The broader trend was still elevated. Annual all-items inflation stood at 3.7%, compared with 2.6% for core inflation. For households and businesses, that means the latest numbers carry two signals at once: a noticeable monthly jump and a slower year-over-year rise in the measure designed to leave out the most volatile categories.