Prices rose across broad swaths of the U.S. economy in September, as high energy costs triggered by the Iran war pushed up costs in many major consumer categories.
\n\nThe Bureau of Labor Statistics said Wednesday that overall prices rose 3.7% from a year ago, and 0.6% from August. Categories including housing, clothes and restaurant and take out food all saw price increases. Only three major categories saw price declines: groceries, medical care commodities, and utility gas service.
\n\n“The index for gasoline rose 9.1 percent in September, accounting for over half of the monthly all items increase,” the Bureau of Labor Statistics said in its report.
\n\nThe report adds to ongoing concerns that persistent inflation is taking a toll on consumers, particularly as wage growth has been stagnant. As of September, the growth in wages was pacing at 3% on an annual basis. Paychecks have not grown faster than inflation since March.
\n\nThe overall increase was slightly more than had been expected by economists polled by Dow Jones, who forecast a jump to 3.6%.
\n\nCore inflation, which excludes food and energy prices, also rose to 2.6% from a year ago, or 0.3% from August. This was also slightly more than had…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/