U.S. inflation edged only slightly higher in September, as the Federal Reserve prepares to lower interest rates again next week to shore up the labor market.

The consumer price index, released 10 days late by the Bureau of Labor Statistics today, rose 3% from the same time last year. That is the fastest annual pace since the start of the year and marks a small rise from the previous 2.9% level. “Core” inflation, which the central bank tracks as a gauge of underlying inflation since it strips out volatile items like energy and food prices, eased slightly to 3%. In August, it registered a 3.1% pace.

On a monthly basis, consumer prices overall rose 0.3%. “Core” goods and services rose only 0.2%. Economists had been expecting slightly more intense price pressures.

The delay in the release o

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