US consumer prices accelerate in August, push Fed closer to rate hike

U.S. consumer prices surged in August, leading the Federal Reserve closer to raising interest rates, according to a report from the Labor Department's Consumer Price Index. This report came on the heels of strong readings in producer price index components, which feed into key inflation measures. Economists believe that U.S. core PCE inflation, excluding volatile food and energy categories, accelerated in August.

Initial market expectations had the Fed raising rates by a quarter point at their upcoming meeting, but this sentiment has softened slightly. The current federal funds rate stands between 3.50% and 3.75%. The surging energy prices, with crude oil above $100 a barrel and diesel surpassing $6 a gallon, are expected to spread through the economy despite the ongoing Iran war.

Meanwhile, food prices have been relatively stable, with egg prices up 2.9% and nonalcoholic beverages increasing. However, core CPI rose 2.4% year-on-year in August, driven by a 5.9% jump in mobile phone costs. Despite the inflationary pressures, core goods inflation remains moderate, and most economists anticipate core PCE inflation to rise by 0.3% in August, after a 0.2% increase in July.