US Inflation Rate Tops Forecasts
2026-10-14 12:31
By
Joana Taborda
1 min. read
The US annual inflation rate accelerated to 3.7% in September 2026, up from 3.4% in each of the previous two months and above market expectations of 3.6%, driven by higher energy prices.
Gasoline rose 34.2% yoy, more than 27.4% in August and fuel oil prices increased 74.2%, compared with 52% previously.
Inflation also accelerated for shelter, to 3.2% from 3%, but slowed for food to 2.5% from 2.7%.
On a monthly basis, the CPI went up 0.6%, marking its largest gain in five months, compared to 0.4% in August and in line with forecasts.
Gasoline jumped 9.1%, accounting for over half of the monthly all items increase.
Recreation, used cars and trucks, education, airline fares, medical care, and apparel also went up while food prices steadied and communication declined.
Meanwhile, annual core inflation rate went up to 2.6% from 2.4%, more than forecasts of 2.5% while monthly core CPI inflation steadied at 0.3%, the same as in August and defying forecasts it would slow to 0.2%.