U.S. Key Inflation Measure Shows Modest September Increase

A key measure of U.S. inflation rose slightly in September, according to a delayed report from the Commerce Department. The Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index is the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge. It tracks changes in the prices of all goods and services that U.S. consumers buy. The report's release was postponed due to last month's temporary federal government shutdown. The newly published data shows a modest increase in consumer prices for September. This report provides critical data for the Federal Reserve. Officials use the PCE index to assess inflation trends before making decisions on interest rates.