Major Economic Indicators Latest Numbers

U.S. consumer prices rose 0.6% in September 2026, while producer prices at final demand climbed 1.3% and import and export prices increased 1.1% and 2.2%, respectively, signaling broad inflation pressure across the economy. The labor market added a preliminary 165,000 payroll jobs in October 2026, with the unemployment rate at 4.1% and average hourly earnings up $0.14. The Employment Cost Index rose 0.8% in the third quarter, and productivity grew 3.6% over the same period. The combination of firm hiring, rising wages and elevated price gauges matters because it shapes expectations for Federal Reserve policy at upcoming meetings. Watch next for revisions to the preliminary payroll and price figures and for whether the September inflation pickup persists into the fourth quarter.