US Inflation Expected to Rise to 3.6% in September Report

The Bureau of Labor Statistics releases the September Consumer Price Index report today at 8:30 a.m. ET, with economists expecting inflation to rise to 3.6% from 3.4%. If inflation exceeds 3%, it would mark the sixth straight month of price increases outpacing wage growth, as average hourly earnings have declined. Higher costs for gas, groceries, and heating disproportionately impact middle- and lower-income households. The Federal Reserve raised rates in September for the first time since 2023, with markets seeing an 80% chance of holding steady at the October meeting. Fed minutes cited geopolitical tensions and AI investments as inflation pressures, while midterm voters rank cost of living as a top concern.