U.S. inflation hits 3.7% in September, topping forecasts

Consumer prices rose 0.6% in September, pushing the annual inflation rate to 3.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, exceeding the 3.6% forecast and remaining well above the Federal Reserve's target. The monthly increase matched economists' expectations of 0.6%, while core CPI, excluding food and energy, rose 0.3% monthly and 2.6% annually, both slightly above the anticipated 0.2% and 2.5%. The report, released Wednesday, signals persistent cost pressures across the U.S. economy, with the data arriving as part of ongoing updates on inflation trends.