US October CPI rose 0.4%, boosting odds of a December Fed hike
What's new: Core CPI held at 0.3%, while housing, food and energy kept price pressures above economists' forecasts.
US consumer prices rose 0.4% in October from the prior month, topping economists' 0.3% forecast and keeping pressure on the Federal Reserve ahead of its December meeting. The Bureau of Labor Statistics data showed inflation cooled from September's 0.6% monthly gain but remained elevated, with housing accounting for more than 30% of the increase. Food and energy also pushed prices higher, though gasoline rose more moderately than in September. Core CPI, which strips out food and energy, increased 0.3% for a third straight month. No annual inflation rate was published because the agency did not collect October 2025 data during the federal government shutdown.