US core CPI rises 0.3% for third straight month... AI investment demand raises possibility of inflationary pressure

US core CPI rose 0.3% month-over-month in October, matching August and September and marking a third straight month at that pace, while headline CPI slowed to 0.4% from 0.6% in September as the energy index eased to a 0.7% gain from 5.2%. Shelter costs climbed 0.3% and accounted for more than 30% of the monthly headline increase, with food prices up 0.5%. The report also flagged AI investment demand as a possible broadening source of price pressure, a concern for markets gauging whether inflation is sticky enough to keep the Federal Reserve cautious. Watch next month's core reading and shelter and services components for signs that AI-related demand is feeding through into broader prices.