A closely watched US inflation report showed consumer price increases eased slightly on an annual basis in September, but "core" prices remained high, according to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics released on Thursday morning.
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 2.4% from a year earlier in September, slightly slower than the 2.5% annual increase in August. This annual increase was higher than economists' expectations which predicted an annual increase of 2.3%.
The CPI index rose 0.2% from the previous month, matching the increase seen in August and also higher than economists' expectations of a 0.1% increase.
On a "core" basis, which excludes variable food and gas costs, prices in September rose 0.3% from the previous month, stronger than economists' expectations of a 0.2% rise, and 3.3% from a year earlier. Core prices rose 0.3% month-on-month and 3.2% year-on-year in August.
The US dollar index, which measures the US dollar against six major currencies, traded slightly firmer by 0.06% to trade at 102.757.
