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%

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