Consumer Price Index News Release

The U.S. Consumer Price Index rose 0.4% in October on a seasonally adjusted basis, down from September's 0.6% increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Shelter costs climbed 0.3% and accounted for more than 30% of the monthly all-items gain, while food rose 0.5% and energy advanced 0.7% following September's 5.2% jump. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, increased 0.3% for a third straight month, with recreation, medical care, motor vehicle insurance and education among the categories that rose, while used cars and trucks and communication declined. The report omits 12-month percent changes for most series because BLS did not collect October 2025 survey data during a lapse in appropriations, leaving month-over-month figures as the primary gauge of inflation. The data matter because they show inflation cooling from September but remaining firm, with shelter and services keeping core pressures persistent. Next, watch whether the missing annual benchmarks complicate the Federal Reserve's read on the inflation trend ahead of its upcoming policy meeting.