U.S. Inflation Rises to 3.7% as Gasoline Prices Jump

U.S. consumer prices rose 3.7% over the year ending in September, with a sharp increase in gasoline helping drive the latest monthly jump. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said overall prices increased 0.6% in September, while gasoline alone rose 9.1% for the month. The report lands just weeks before the November 3 midterm elections.

Fuel Costs Led the Monthly Increase

The government said gasoline accounted for more than half of September’s increase in the overall consumer price index. Energy prices as a whole rose 5.2% for the month. Those are measured price changes, not a forecast of what drivers will pay at every gas station.

Other Costs Also Increased

Shelter prices rose 0.4% in September. The core index, which removes more volatile food and energy categories, rose more slowly than the overall figure but still increased. These measures help show why households can feel different kinds of pressure at once: fuel may fluctuate rapidly while housing costs change more gradually.

The Numbers Ahead of Election Day

The report is the latest official snapshot of household inflation ahead of the midterms. It does not predict how people will vote or determine the Federal Reserve’s next action. Its immediate significance is the documented acceleration in prices, especially the gasoline costs that consumers encounter directly.

References: Consumer Price Index News Release - 2026 M09 Results | Inflation worsened last month to 3.7% in sign that prices remain elevated as midterm elections near