US Inflation Hits 3.7%
Persistent price increases erode raises and raise pressure on consumers and policymakers.
4 left3 center5 right
Updated Oct 16, 4:42pm ETBoth sides, every morning
The day’s biggest stories and how each side covered them. Free.
What happened
Consumer prices rose 3.7% over the year to September, up from 3.4% in August. Prices also climbed 0.6% from the previous month, while core inflation reached 2.6% over the year. The increase followed a sharp wholesale-price jump, as businesses paid more before those costs reached shoppers. The Iran war has disrupted energy markets and pushed fuel costs through freight, production, and supply chains. Gasoline prices rose 9.1% from August, and import prices also climbed across fuel and other goods. Consumers kept spending, but weaker underlying retail sales suggested fuel costs were squeezing budgets. The data may add pressure on the Federal Reserve before its October rate meeting.
How each side covered it
From the left
Left-leaning outlets framed the report as an affordability squeeze that could keep spreading to households and businesses. The Los Angeles Times warned that higher wholesale food costs could make groceries more expensive later, while consumers kept spending despite feeling strained. In the Boston Globe, elevated inflation became a Republican political liability worsened by the Iran war and voters’ cost concerns.
From the right
Right-leaning outlets emphasized inflation’s spread beyond gasoline, while keeping attention on political accountability and business strain. Breitbart News focused on rising import costs as evidence that price pressure was broadening into goods and materials. The Blaze argued Republicans now own voter anger over gasoline prices rather than inheriting blame from Biden. ZeroHedge lingered on squeezed margins if businesses cannot pass energy costs to customers.
Headlines
Left4
Boston Globe · Oct 14Inflation worsened last month to 3.7% in sign that prices remain elevated as midterm elections near - The Boston Globe
AlterNet · Oct 16Nobel economist warns Trump’s inflation disaster is about to get worse
The American Prospect · Oct 16A Perfect Economic Storm - The American Prospect
Center3
Right5
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