Inflation accelerated in September, with prices up 3%

Inflation Overview - The year-over-year inflation rate increased to 3.0% in September, returning to January levels, with economists initially expecting a rate of 3.1% [1][8] - Core CPI, excluding food and energy, also rose by 3% year-over-year in September, slightly below the expected 3.1% [1] Monthly Changes - Core CPI increased by 0.2% from August to September, falling short of the 0.3% forecast [2] - Overall CPI rose by 0.3% month-over-month, below the anticipated 0.4% [2] Impact of Government Shutdown - The Bureau of Labor Statistics delayed the release of the September consumer price index report due to the government shutdown, which is the second-longest in US history [3] - The shutdown has affected the publication of other key economic data, including the jobs report, which remains unscheduled [6][8] Inflation Drivers - The increase in inflation was primarily driven by goods inflation, particularly a 4.1% rise in gas prices month-over-month, significantly higher than the previous 1.9% increase [4] - The food index rose by 3.1% year-over-year, with a 0.2% increase month-over-month, which is less than the previous 0.5% increase [5] Federal Reserve Considerations - The Federal Reserve is focusing on supporting the labor market, especially as inflation risks are perceived to be transitory and tariff-driven [7] - The Fed's upcoming meeting on October 28 and 29 will discuss rates, relying on private data releases and previous reports due to the lack of official data [6][8]