US annual inflation rises to 3.7% in September as gasoline prices climb
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported US consumer prices up 3.7% year on year in September, from 3.4% in August, driven mainly by gasoline costs tied to the Iran war. The report is the last before the November midterms.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2US consumer prices rose 3.7% in the year to September, up from 3.4% in August, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on Wednesday 14 October. Anadolu AgencyN “The annual inflation rate rose from 3.4% in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Inflation rose three-tenths of a percentage point to 3.7% for the year ending in September” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Mixed · 2The reading was slightly above expectations; CBS News, citing FactSet, and Anadolu Agency put the forecast at 3.6%. CBS NewsLC “Economists expected the index to rise at an annual rate of 3.6% in September, according to FactSet.” Read at CBS News ↗ Anadolu AgencyN “exceeding market expectations of 3.6%” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Centre · 1On a monthly basis the Consumer Price Index rose 0.6%, up from 0.4% in August. Gasoline jumped 9.1% and accounted for more than half of the monthly increase, while energy prices rose 5.2%. Anadolu AgencyN “Gasoline prices jumped 9.1% over the month, accounting for more than half of the overall monthly increase. Energy prices rose 5.2%” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗
Mixed · 2Core inflation, which excludes food and energy, rose to 2.6% annually from 2.4%, with monthly core inflation at 0.3%. Shelter rose 0.4% on the month, and food prices were unchanged. Anadolu AgencyN “Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, rose to 2.6% annually in September from 2.4% in August.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Washington ExaminerR “The rate of core inflation, a measure that strips out volatile food and energy prices, rose two-tenths of a percentage point to 2.6%” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Centre · 1Over the year, energy prices were up 20.4%, with gasoline up 34.2% and fuel oil up 74.2%. Anadolu AgencyN “On an annual basis, energy prices surged 20.4%, with gasoline up 34.2% and fuel oil rising 74.2%.” Read at Anadolu Agency ↗ Mixed · 2Outlets attribute the rise to the war with Iran, which began in late February and pushed up oil prices. ABC News says inflation was 2.4% in February, reached a three-year high in May, and eased over the summer during a tentative pause in fighting that expired in August. ABC NewsLC “Inflation stands well above a rate of 2.4% recorded in February prior to the outbreak of the Iran war.” Read at ABC News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Much of the recent wave of inflation comes as a result of the war with Iran, which started in late February” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Left · 1According to AAA data cited by ABC News, the national average gas price is above $4.30 a gallon, against under $3 before the war, and diesel is $6.29. ABC NewsLC “kept the national average gas price above $4.30 a gallon, AAA data shows.” Read at ABC News ↗ Mixed · 2The Federal Reserve, led by Chair Kevin Warsh, raised rates by a quarter point last month, its first increase since 2023, to a range of 3.75% to 4%. Its next meeting is on 28 October, and ABC News says investors put the chance of another rise at nearly 25%. ABC NewsLC “The next meeting of Fed policymakers takes place on Oct. 28, just days before the midterm elections.” Read at ABC News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “The Fed raised its interest rate target by 0.25 percentage points to a range of 3.75% to 4%” Read at Washington Examiner ↗ Left · 2Coverage places the data against the midterm elections in early November, with affordability a top voter concern. CBS News cites its poll saying nine in 10 Americans see prices as the most important factor shaping their view of the economy. CBS NewsLC “Nine in 10 Americans say prices are the most important factor shaping their views of the economy, according to a CBS News poll released earlier this month.” Read at CBS News ↗ ABC NewsLC “The fresh data arrived as affordability marks a top concern for voters ahead of early November's midterm elections.” Read at ABC News ↗
Mixed · 2The wider economy is described as mixed: ABC News reports employers added 29,000 jobs in September, down from 162,000 in August, while consumer spending rose 0.6% in August. The Washington Examiner calls job growth robust and spending strong. ABC NewsLC “Employers added 29,000 jobs last month, a sharp slowdown from 162,000 jobs added in August” Read at ABC News ↗ Washington ExaminerR “Job growth has been robust enough to keep unemployment trending down” Read at Washington Examiner ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left3 outlets
- Framing
- Explains the data through gasoline prices and the Iran war, with context on the Fed and voter affordability concerns.
- Emphasis
- Energy costs, gas and diesel prices, weak hiring, consumer sentiment, and the Fed's rate decision.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not directly attribute voter discontent to President Trump.
- Charged language
- “surged”“soared”
Centre3 outlets
- Framing
- Data-focused report on monthly and annual CPI components.
- Emphasis
- Component-level figures for gasoline, energy, shelter, food, core and used cars.
- Leaves out or plays down
- No mention of the midterms, the Fed or the political context.
- Charged language
- “surge”
- For example
-
“Gasoline prices jumped 9.1% over the month, accounting for more than half of the overall monthly increase.” — Anadolu Agency
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Political framing: the report is bad news for the Trump administration and Republicans before the midterms.
- Emphasis
- Voter blame of Trump, falling approval, the Fed acting against the president's wishes, and a strong underlying economy.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives few component details such as gasoline's share of the monthly rise.
- Charged language
- “clearly bad news”
- For example
-
“The report is clearly bad news for the Trump administration, which has been working to reassure voters weary of price hikes” — Washington Examiner
What every side reports
- Annual CPI inflation was 3.7% in September, up from 3.4% in August.
- Higher gasoline and energy prices tied to the Iran war drove the rise.
- The report comes weeks before the November midterm elections.
- The Fed recently raised interest rates.
Where accounts differ
-
State of the wider economy
- Left
- ABC News stresses sluggish hiring (29,000 jobs) and record-low consumer sentiment alongside resilient spending.
- Centre
- Anadolu Agency gives price data only and does not assess the wider economy.
- Right
- The Washington Examiner says that apart from inflation the economy appears to be in good shape, with robust job growth.
-
US annual inflation rose to 3.7% in September from 3.4% in August.
Supported- Supports 4
- ABC News, CBS News, Anadolu Agency, Washington Examiner
-
Higher energy and gasoline prices linked to the Iran war drove the September increase in inflation.
Supported- Supports 4
- ABC News, CBS News, Anadolu Agency, Washington Examiner
-
The September reading exceeded economists' expectations of 3.6%.
Reported- Reports 3
- ABC News, CBS News, Anadolu Agency
Bureau of Labor Statistics organisation
Published the CPI data showing 3.7% annual inflation, 0.6% monthly, as reported by the outlets.
“The annual inflation rate rose from 3.4% in August, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.” — Anadolu Agency
Left3 articles
-
Inflation climbs in September as gas prices stay high
Neutral Explanatory piece linking inflation to the Iran war and gas prices, with Fed and voter context.
-
-
Inflation surged in September as U.S. energy costs jumped
Neutral Brief breaking item stressing energy costs and the midterm affordability backdrop.
Centre3 articles
-
-
US annual inflation rises to 3.7% in September as gasoline prices surge
Neutral Detailed data rundown of CPI components.
-
Right2 articles
-
-
Inflation increased to 3.7% in last consumer price index report before midterms
Critical Treats the figure as a political problem for Trump and the GOP before midterms.
- 14 Oct 13:32 First ABC NewsLC Inflation climbs in September as gas prices stay high
- 14 Oct 13:33 +1m Washington ExaminerR Inflation increased to 3.7% in last consumer price index report before midterms
- 14 Oct 13:34 +2m NBC NewsLC Inflation jumps to 3.7% as gas and diesel prices squeeze consumers ahead of the midterms
- 14 Oct 13:34 +2m CBS NewsLC Inflation surged in September as U.S. energy costs jumped
- 14 Oct 13:40 +8m NewsweekN Donald Trump Suffers Inflation Nightmare Just Weeks Before Midterms
- 14 Oct 13:47 +15m Anadolu AgencyN US annual inflation rises to 3.7% in September as gasoline prices surge
- 14 Oct 14:08 +36m Just the NewsRC Consumer prices increased 0.6% from August to September, Labor Department
- 14 Oct 14:14 +42m BBC NewsN US inflation rises more than expected ahead of midterm elections
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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