October inflation exceeds forecasts, new data reveals
The cost of living continued to rise in October, according to data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks the price of common goods and services including fuel, food, and housing, increased by 0.4% compared to September.
Economists had anticipated a smaller increase of 0.3%.
The BLS was unable to provide an annual inflation rate due to a government shutdown that impacted data collection in October 2025.
Core inflation, which excludes fluctuating energy and food prices to provide a clearer picture of underlying trends, also surpassed expectations, rising 0.3% for the month. This figure was higher than the 0.2% increase economists had predicted.
Recent inflation has placed considerable strain on household finances across the United States, particularly impacting lower-income families who allocate a larger portion of their income to essential goods and services.
While energy prices saw a monthly increase of 0.7% in October, this represents a significant slowdown from the 5.2% increase in September and the 2.1% rise in August. Earlier in the summer, energy costs had decreased due to instability related to the Iran war.
Gasoline prices specifically rose by 1% in October, continuing a downward trend after increases of 9.1% in September and 3.9% in August.
Source
“Consumer inflation rises faster than expected in October, CPI report shows”
Read the original report ↗This story was written with the help of AI from the original report credited above and published after automatic checks. No person read it before publication. Errors reported to us are corrected and listed on our corrections page. Read our editorial policy · Report an error · Corrections
Read next
German inflation cools slightly in October, fueled by fuel discount
Inflation in Germany eased in October, preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office confirmed. The consumer price index fell to 2.8 percent…
Related
Caught up in five lines
The Brief: the day’s biggest business stories, written by our desk at and .