The new consumer price data released Friday shows an overall 0.3% increase in September, bringing the annual rate of inflation to 3%, the highest it has been since January.
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The numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed the biggest factor in the monthly rise to be gasoline prices, up 4.1% from August to September.
Though food prices were also up, the price increase moderated from the big jump in the previous month. Average grocery prices in September were 2.7% higher than they were a year earlier, with particularly big increases in the prices of coffee (18.9%) and beef and veal (14.7%)
The table below shows price changes in several categories for the month of September and for the 12-month period since September 2024.
| Category | September | 12-month |
|---|---|---|
| All food at home | +0.3% | +2.7% |
| Meat, poultry, fish, eggs | +0.3% | +5.2% |
| Cereal, bakery | +0.7% | +1.6% |
| Fruits, vegetables | 0 | +1.3% |
| Dairy | -0.5% | +0.7% |
| Non-alcoholic beverages | +0.7% | +5.3% |
| Food away from home | +0.1% | +3.7% |
| Gasoline | +4.1% | -0.5% |
| Electricity | -0.5% | +5.1% |
| New vehicles | +0.2% | +0.8% |
| Used vehicles | -0.4% | +5.1% |
| Clothing | +0.7% | -0.1% |
| Shelter | +0.2% | +3.6% |
| Medical services | +0.3% | +3.9% |