Economic Data and Growth

Prices paid by consumers for a variety of goods and services rose faster than expected last month, according to CNBC.

What’s going on: “The consumer price index, a closely followed inflation gauge, increased 0.4% on the month and 3.7% from a year ago, according to a Labor Department report Thursday. That compared to respective Dow Jones estimates of 0.3% and 3.6%.”

Core CPI: Core CPI, which excludes often-volatile food and energy costs, were in keeping with economist expectations, inching up 0.3% on the month and 4.1% year over year.

The details: Housing costs accounted for most of the inflation uptick.

• The shelter index—which composes about a third of the CPI weighting—rose 0.6% in September and 7.2% from September 2022.
• Food and energy costs rose 0.2% and 1.5%, respectively.
• Prices for services, “considered a key for the longer-run direction for inflation,” rose 0.6% excluding energy services.

What it means: “These data are not likely to change the trajectory of monetary policy, with the Federal Open Market Committee likely to pause [interest-rate hikes] once again at its Oct. 31–Nov. 1 meeting,” said NAM Chief Economist Chad Moutray. “Interest rates are not likely to see a cut until mid-to-late 2024.”